FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: There’s been plenty of rest and practice time in the ensuing days, but now the real grind begins with 12 games over the next 23 nights as the Jets play every other day until Nov. 9. In other words, hope you enjoyed your break, boys.
“I think there’s going to be a bunch of points later in the season where we’re wishing we had an extra day or two,” defenceman Josh Morrissey said this morning.
“As a player, once the season has begun, just want to get playing, so excited to hit the ice tonight and get into some rhythm, finally into a regular schedule.”
This is one you’d expect the Jets to be able to get, given the quality of the opponent, but San Jose always seems to present a challenge regardless of their record or roster. A “trap” game, if you will.
Jets coach Scott Arniel quickly rebuked a suggestion from a reporter earlier this week that San Jose might be deemed “a winnable game.”
“No, you can’t say that,” Arniel replied. “You can’t take any opponent lightly. You can’t think you’re going to get any easy ones.
“We have a couple here before we take off on the road, the busy schedule starts, so we have to make sure we worry about how we play and that we get off to a good start.”
I spoke this morning with Tyler Toffoli and first-year Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky and quickly got the sense they’re already tired of the losing and the narratives surrounding their team, especially after a poor performance last night in Chicago.
It will be interesting to see how they come out in this back-to-back situation.
Tyler Toffoli has three goals and an assist with his new club. (Erin Hooley / The Associated Press files)
KEN SAYS: The Jets have done a lot of really good things through the first three games, from much improved special teams, a pair of 6-on-5 goals and a pair of overtime winners to allowing just two goals against. But one of the areas they’ll be looking for progress is with the second scoring line.
Ehlers has generated a pair of assists (one on the power play and another during an extra-attacker situation), but his trio with Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti is looking for its first even-strength goal of the campaign.
Remember, it’s a small sample size, but Ehlers sees some incremental growth from the line while recognizing more is required when it comes to generating a higher volume of dangerous scoring chances in the offensive zone.
“Still not good, let me put it that way. But we’ve talked a lot, we’re focused on getting this thing working. We’ve got the guys to do it,” said Ehlers, noting the trio has done extensive video work during the time between games.
“Our D-zone has been good. Not great, but good. So, we’ve worked the last four days to create something that we can bring into the game and I like what I’ve seen.
“We’re positive and I’m positive that we’ll get it going. We have to. I love playing with those two guys, they’re great players, so we’ve just got to figure it out.”
The Jets have scored 10 goals on the season, but just four of those have come during five-on-five play – and none since the 6-0 shutout of the Edmonton Oilers in the season opener.
It’s far too early to qualify as a concern, but it’s an area the Jets will be looking to sharpen up a bit.
On the flip side, the commitment to team defence has been an area of strength and continues to be the foundation for the Jets.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Barron-Kupari-Iafallo
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Fleury-Miller
GOAL:
Healthy scratches: D Coghlan, F Gustafsson
Injured: D Heinola (ankle), D Stanley (knee), F Anderson-Dolan (foot)
SAN JOSE SHARKS
FORWARDS:
- Gushchin-Granlund-Toffoli
- Kostin-Wennberg-Zetterlund
- Grundstrom-Goodrow-Kunin
- G Smith-Sturm-Dellandrea
DEFENCE:
- Walman-Ceci
- Ferraro-Rutta
- Thrun-Benning
GOAL:
Healthy scratches: D Thompson, F W Smith (load management)
Injured: C Celebrini (hip), C Couture (lower body), F Bordeleau (lower body), D Vlasic (back), F Eklund (upper-body)
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NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets head coach Scott Arniel on the Sharks changes under new head coach Ryan Warsofsky:
“They’re in attack mode. This coach is coming over from the Carolina organization. They’re coming. They’re going to get in your face, whether it’s through the neutral zone, the forecheck they’re coming heavy.
“Same thing when it comes to the d-zone, they’re not giving you time and space. They’re not going to back off and allow you to have room. They’re going to try and pressure you as much as they can.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Mike had a chat this morning with Toffoli, who reflected on his brief time with the Jets and spoke about his new role on a rebuilding Sharks club. That will be the lead item of Dump & Chase, the weekly NHL column from our two hockey scribes.
Ken will have the game analysis tonight from the Canada Life Centre. You can find both pieces online at winnipegfreepress.com and in Saturday’s print edition.
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