FROM THE PRESS BOX
Mike says: It feels like 2019 all over again for the Blues, who are following an eerily similar path from that season which ultimately ended in a most unlikely Stanley Cup victory. Get off to an ugly start? Check. Fire your coach during the season? Check. Go on a ridiculous run towards the playoffs? Check.
The only thing missing this time around would appear to be Gloria, which was the victory song the Blues used that year. However, I found her replacement this morning inside the visiting dress room, where an entire stall had been set up for “Jobu,” who has become their good luck charm during this sizzling streak.
If you haven’t seen the movie Major League, Jobu was a wild-looking doll that one of the characters, Pedro Cerrano, would pray to before games.
Hey, whatever works, right?
I asked Brayden Schenn about the origin, but he was rather tight-lipped beyond repeatedly describing Jobu as a “good guy.” As for the past vs. the present?
“There are only five of us left off that team and it feels completely different with different guys, but there are some similarities about how hard guys are playing for one another and how hard the guys are playing defensively,” he said.
“Obviously the win streak has similarities, but that was five or six years ago. It is a completely different mindset in the room right now and we have to write our own story.”
The Jets are quite familiar with that previous incarnation, given they had the unfortunate task of trying to stop the Blues in the opening round that year — and were quickly booted out of the playoffs in six games.
“You look back at their team in ’19 that went on that run and followed a similar path. I’m sure that guys that are still on that team are feeling similar vibes,” said Morrissey.
“That’s why we talk about, it’s a long year, right? I mean, you can get off to a great start, you can get off to a poor start, and there’s a lot of hockey go. So what they’ve done is impressive, and certainly the streak that they’re on is impressive. I guess the other 15 teams come playoff time are trying to not repeat what happened when they won the cup in ‘19. But again, it’s important for us to focus on tonight, and it’s a great opportunity against a team that’s feeling great and playing great. And we need to bring our best game, and hopefully that brings our best out of us here.”
There’s a chance Winnipeg and St. Louis could once again meet in the first round this year. If that were to occur, the Jets would be hoping that not every part of recent hockey history repeats itself.
Pedro Cerrano would pray to Jobu before games in the movie Major League. (Mike McIntryre / Free Press)
Ken says: After talking extensively with Luke Schenn for a story on the road trip last week, it should be interesting to see how many times he comes into contact with younger brother Brayden in this one.
As Luke explained, the two are each other’s biggest supporters and harshest critics and given what’s at stake for both teams in their respective races, combined with the intensity both players demonstrate on a nightly basis, you can be sure that they’ll be among the hit leaders.
The Jets’ power play has been a frequent topic of conversation here during the past several weeks and while it has now clicked in consecutive games, there’s still a bit of work to be done to get it back to humming the way it was when it was a dangerous weapon.
In what can only be described as a you-wouldn’t-believe-it-unless-you’ve-seen-it situation, Jets sniper Kyle Connor hasn’t scored with the man-advantage since Dec. 23.
That’s a span of 41 games for Connor, who has nine power-play goals and 22 power-play points among the 38 markers and 91 points that have him among the league leaders.
Whether it’s as a shooter or utilizing his underrated vision and passing ability, Connor needs to create a bit more for himself and the guys around him when the Jets are on the power play.
There were glimpses in Saturday’s game, like when he found Cole Perfetti and Mark Scheifele for point-blank chances against Utah HC.
Connor had a total of four shots on goal and eight shot attempts, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he found a way to get on the scoresheet tonight.
Speaking of Perfetti, he leads the Jets with five assists in three games against the Blues this season.
He looked very comfortable after his promotion to the top line and that’s a trio Arniel could give a bit more runway to, at least in the short term, with Gabe Vilardi still sidelined with an upper-body issue.
For the Blues, centre Robert Thomas is having an incredible season, despite missing 12 games with a fractured right ankle he suffered by blocking a shot from Neal Pionk in the first meeting of the season against the Jets back on Oct. 22.
Thomas is up to 21 goals and 75 points in 66 games, with three goals and seven points coming in three previous games against Winnipeg.
Since former Manitoba Moose forward Jim Montgomery replaced Drew Bannister, the Blues are 34-16-6 and they’ve gotten back to the identity that made them successful during their rise from the ashes in 2019.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
- Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Anderson-Dolan-Barron-Tanev
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Schenn
- Stanley-Fleury
GOAL:
Healthy scratches: D Heinola, F Gustafsson
Injured: D Pionk (lower body), D Miller (illness), RW Vilardi (upper body), C Kupari (concussion)
ST LOUIS BLUES
FORWARDS:
- Buchnevich-Thomas-Snuggerud
- Neighbours-Schenn-Kyrou
- Joseph-Sundqvist-Bolduc
- Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker
DEFENCE:
- Broberg-Faulk
- Fowler-Leddy
- Suter-Tucker
GOAL:
Healthy scratches: D Kessel, F Dvorsky
Injured: D Parayko (knee), D Krug (ankle), LW Holloway (lower body), LW Texier (upper body)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets defenceman Luke Schenn on facing younger brother Brayden tonight:
“We don’t take these opportunities for granted. It’s special for us to get the opportunity, special for friends and family who have been supportive and followed us throughout our career. It’s in a sense not just another game, because Brayden and I are fortunate enough to do this. They’re always special when we get the chance to go at it.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Mike is on the scene to cover this Central Division battle. He will have an early notebook, along with a game analysis of the Jets vs. Blues. Both stories will be available in Tuesday’s print edition and online at winnipegfreepress.com.
|
