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Welcome back, folks, as another hockey season is finally upon us.
Not that we’ve been counting, but it has been 162 days since the Winnipeg Jets last played a meaningful game.
You probably don’t need a reminder that they lost that night to the Colorado Avalanche, a fourth straight playoff setback to their Central Division rival that ended a promising campaign with a whimper, rather than a bang.
But enough about the past. A new journey begins tonight, with most of the same faces back for a Jets team that will be in tough against an Edmonton Oilers squad that came within a whisker of winning it all last June.
“It’s a tough test for us, the first game of the year coming against the Western Conference champs and Stanley Cup finalists and the best player in the world,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “But if you want to be an elite team in this league, you have to beat elite teams. It’s a good first step for us.”
Connor Hellebuyck, who was briefly away from the team earlier this week dealing with a personal family issue, will be in the net for Winnipeg. Stuart Skinner will be the masked man at the other end of the ice.
It should be a dandy, with both clubs wanting to get the new campaign off to a solid start.
“It feels like it’s been forever to get to this game. We’re very excited to get going. Nervous, excited, everything,” said centre Mark Scheifele.
Here’s some more information to get you set.
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MIKE SAYS: I saw a funny meme the other day online which I thought was quite fitting: Essentially, it said something along the lines of, “I can’t wait for a hockey team to determine my mood for the next eight months.” No doubt many fans can relate to such a sentiment.
As a result, tonight’s outcome will no doubt determine whether the 2024-25 season is going to be a smashing success or an utter failure, right?
I kid, of course, but I’m anxious to see how these Jets come out of the starting blocks against an elite opponent.
“You don’t have to say a whole lot. I know the guys are going to be ready to go to kick this season off on a good look,” new head coach Scott Arniel said following the morning skate.
It seems special teams always play a huge factor early in the year, with referees under strict orders to call it by the book. If so, the challenge for Winnipeg gets even steeper in my eyes. The Jets might want to ensure they’re on their best behaviour so as not to give Connor McDavid and company too many looks.
“We have to make sure we’re good with our sticks and we’re checking with our legs, we’re not getting into those situations where we have to grab on and take those kinds of penalties,” Arniel told me.
“We really don’t want to see that power play if we don’t have to. As much as I’d like to test our penalty kill, I really don’t want to see it a whole lot. But, at the end of the day, if that’s what’s thrown at us, we have to be prepared. We’ve talked about it all camp long. It’s an area we need to improve — both specialty teams — and if it comes to it, hopefully we’re at our best.”
I suspect the downtown Edmonton rink will be a bit more subdued tonight than the last time I was here, which was for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in which the roof nearly came off the building as they forced a winner-take-all Game 7 in Florida by downing the Panthers.
Enjoy the game, folks — and just remember to pace yourselves (and your emotions) accordingly. The season is a marathon, not a sprint!
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KEN SAYS: It’s the first official game for Arniel as the head coach of the Jets. After filling in successfully for Rick Bowness on multiple occasions during the past two seasons before Bowness retired from coaching in May, now he’s ready for the big chair.
He’s waited 12 years for a second chance to be an NHL bench boss and he’s been open about what he learned from the mistakes he made during that first stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. In a one-on-one conversation earlier this week, Arniel made it clear that he wasn’t content with just getting the job. He wants to win in his adopted hometown.
Going up against the Western Conference champions in the first of 82 games is no easy task, but this figures to be a high-flying affair.
Nino Niederreiter endured a cold spell down the stretch and into the playoffs, finishing with 21 consecutive games without denting the twine. But he’s had a strong preseason, spending ample time in his office around the crease and is eager to return to the land of 20-goal scorers.
There’s been plenty of focus on Nikolaj Ehlers’ future, but that will sort itself out in due time. In this game, we’ll look for Ehlers to make an immediate impact on Davis Payne‘s revamped power play and to begin his quest to hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career.
Speaking of milestones and predictions, Kyle Connor could threaten to score 50 this season, while Gabe Vilardi figures to comfortably top 35, provided he can stay healthy and play north of 74 games. D-man Josh Morrissey could be a Norris Trophy finalist after incorporating penalty-killing duties back into his portfolio.
For the Oilers, plenty of eyes will be on the two big stars but don’t sleep on Zach Hyman, who set a career-high with 54 goals and 77 points in 80 games last season. Hyman has been limited to four goals and eight points in 24 career games against the Jets.
Among the Oilers’ newcomers, Viktor Arvidsson is familiar to Jets’ faithful from his tenure with the Nashville Predators. Arvidsson has seven goals and 17 points in 24 career games against the Jets and has often been a pain to play against.
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