FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: First off, a tip of the hat to the Blackhawks and their fans for a first-class tribute on Monday night to Jonathan Toews. That was sensational.
The Jets went winless in 11, reeled off four straight victories and now have come up empty in two straight outings (0-1-1).
Mark Scheifele has been quiet by his high standards, failing to record a point against both Toronto and Chicago. The team’s leading scorer didn’t even record a shot against the Blackhawks — just the fifth time that’s happened all season — and was on the ice for both goals against (the second one being into an empty net). In other words, not the type of game we’ve come to expect.
This is the fifth two-game pointless stretch of the season for Scheifele, who had been on a tear with 10 points (3G, 7A) in his previous five outings.
Scheifele hasn’t gone three games without a point this year, with seven points (3G, 4A) in the four combined games he’s played after going two games without, so history would suggest he’s due for a good night against the Blues. The Jets certainly need it.
Winnipeg Jets centre Mark Scheifele (Craig Lassig / The Associated Press files)
Hard to believe Winnipeg’s last goal against St. Louis was captain Adam Lowry’s double-overtime dagger last May in Game 7. These teams have only played once since, a 1-0 victory by the Blues in which Hofer stopped all 24 shots he faced. Safe to say the local product loves to face his hometown team.
Jordan Binnington may be headed to the Olympics, but he’s not even the best Canadian goaltender on his own team. That would be Hofer, who leads in wins (11-8), goals-against-average (2.76 to 3.59) and save percentage (.905 to .869). Go figure.
Down in Winnipeg’s crease, Comrie will be looking to build off his terrific 23-save outing against the Los Angeles Kings back on Jan. 9 in a 5-1 win that finally stopped the bleeding for his team. For all the talk about the Jets potentially being sellers by the trade deadline, I wonder if Comrie — a pending UFA making just $825,000 this season — might be an option for a Stanley Cup contender looking to upgrade at the backup position, or at least bring in a reliable third-string option for injury insurance? While he may not be able to handle a heavy workload befitting a No. 1, Comrie certainly has proven over time he’s a capable No. 2.
Moving out Comrie would also allow the Jets to promote Thomas Milic and/or Dom DiVincentiis for some NHL work down the stretch.
And hey, the Jets can always re-sign Comrie in the summer for what would be, I believe, the fourth time!
KEN SAYS: It’s downright baffling that the Jets have been blanked five times in 48 games so far this season, including Monday’s loss.
Sure, the Jets generated plenty of chances against Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight – including 32 shots on goal – but there weren’t enough second and third-chance opportunities, which has happened far too often this season and is one of the reasons the Jets are in a tough spot when it comes to their playoff fortunes.
The Jets have scored a lot more lately (including 23 goals during the five-game point streak that saw them go 4-0-1), but this was an inopportune time for them to come up empty.
It was another solid outing for the Jets’ second line of Jonathan Toews, Gabe Vilardi and Cole Perfetti. According to Natural Stat Trick, the trio had nine scoring chances for and only two against — and 5-0 when tracking high-danger chances.
Defenceman Logan Stanley was heavily involved against the Blackhawks. While he only had one shot on goal, he finished with nine shot attempts, three hits and four blocked shots while logging 21:12 of ice time, which is his third-highest total of the season.
As for the Blues, it’s strange to see the struggles they’ve endured so far. It looked like the group had turned the corner after the arrival of head coach Jim Montgomery, but they’ve taken a step back this season and have rarely looked like the team that pushed the Jets to the limit last spring.
With top centre Robert Thomas among the players out due to injury, the active scoring leader on the team is Pavel Buchnevich, who has eight goals and 25 points.
The lack of production throughout the lineup is concerning, which is why it won’t be a surprise to see Blues GM Doug Armstrong potentially make some big moves prior to the NHL trade deadline on March 6.
I can’t help but wonder whether the Schenn brothers end up on the same contending team, with Brayden providing the type of spirited play and secondary scoring he delivered in that memorable series against the Jets last April and Luke also bringing some additional bite.
Both players are Stanley Cup champions and would probably welcome the opportunity to chase one more together.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
- Perfetti-Toews-Vilardi
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Namestnikov
- Koepke-Barron-Pearson
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Schenn
- Phillips-Stanley
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: F Nyquist, F Zhilkin
INJURED: D Salomonsson (illness), D Fleury (nose, back), D Miller (lower-body), D Pionk (lower-body)
ST. LOUIS BLUES
FORWARDS:
- Neighbours-Schenn-Snuggerud
- Berggren-Dvorsky-Kyrou
- Stenberg-Bjugstad-Buchnevich
- Toropchenko-Fabbri-Walker
DEFENCE:
- Broberg-Parayko
- Tucker-Faulk
- Fowler-Mailloux
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Kessel
INJURED: C Thomas (lower body), F Sundqvist (ankle), LW Joseph (elbow), C Suter (ankle), D Krug (ankle), F Holloway (undisclosed)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Blues coach Jim Montgomery on the tribute to Jonathan Toews in Chicago on Monday night:
“I think that’s what makes our game great. There’s legacy players like a Jonathan Toews that did so much for the tradition of the Blackhawks. Being a native Winnipeg boy, playing for his hometown team, going to the Original 6 team that he won three Cups, he won a Conn Smythe and did so many great things, hoisting the Cup three times as captain, like that’s what makes the game great, that you have those memories.
“He’s one of the top 100 players ever. The game is special, we’re all very fortunate to be in the NHL, whether you’re a player, a coach, a manager, a scout. We’re all very lucky to be surrounded by legacy players and legends of the game.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken is making his way back from Chicago and aims to provide game analysis of Jets vs. Blues from the downtown rink tonight.
Mike is covering off the late-afternoon news conference in which the Jets are unveiling their roster for the Heritage Classic alumni game that will be held next October.
You can read both stories later tonight online and in Wednesday’s print edition.
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