FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: Memo to the Jets: shoot early and often against Jarry, whose confidence is hanging by a thread right now. Of course, the Penguins netminder will probably turn in an all-world performance tonight and absolutely stand on his head. That’s the way hockey often seems to go. Tale as old as time.
Winnipeg had been a perfect road team this season until they flopped in Florida with consecutive losses against the Lightning and Panthers by a combined 9-1 score. No doubt they’ll be trying to get back to the style of play away from home that led to seven wins in the first seven outings.
“We’re an attack team and when we get in the offensive zone, we can put teams on their heels with our quickness and our ability to get pucks to the net,” Arniel said of what the Jets need to ensure they’re doing well.
Indeed, they did plenty of that last month when they beat the Penguins 6-3 at Canada Life Centre, forcing plenty of Pittsburgh mistakes and turnovers.
“It’s always a bit different when you’re playing in their barn,” said Jets winger Mason Appleton. “They control the matchups and things like that. And they still have some of the best players in the world in that locker room. Offensively they can kill you if you give them too much time.”
Winnipeg Jets winger Mason Appleton will play his 300th game tonight. (Chris O’Meara / The Associated Press files)
Funny moment in the Winnipeg locker room following the morning skate. Team colour commentator Mitch Clinton pointed out to Appleton that tonight will be his 300th game with the organization.
Captain Adam Lowry, sitting in the stall beside him, jumped right in.
“Oh, that’s expensive,” Lowry cracked. Translation: Appleton might be picking up the tab at the next team meal in honour of this milestone. And there will be plenty of time to break bread as a team over the next 10 days on this lengthy journey.
I’m curious to see how Winnipeg handles this tough stretch of schedule — including getting right back at it tomorrow night in Nashville where I believe Eric Comrie will make his fifth start of the season — and I suspect it will ultimately tell us a lot more about this team.
KEN SAYS: Now that the response game against the Panthers is in the rearview mirror, the Jets are back to their regularly scheduled programming. As they hit the quarter point this weekend, it’s tough to determine what the most impressive storyline actually is. The red-hot start has caught the attention of the entire league and the Jets have shown to be a legit contender.
This is a four-line hockey team that is getting contributions throughout the lineup, they’ve got a Norris Trophy candidate in Josh Morrissey leading the way on defence and Hellebuyck is the front-runner to win a third Vezina Trophy.
Arniel has already put his stamp on this group and his ability to keep the buy-in level as high as it’s been is his biggest achievement to date since taking over from Rick Bowness. The improvements on special teams point to Arniel hiring the right assistant coaches during his off-season search.
All of those concerns about Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff standing pat and mostly coming up empty on July 1 in unrestricted free agency? Well, that discussion has shifted to the value of continuity on a roster that finished tied for fourth overall in the NHL last season before the early playoff exit.
Now it’s important to remember that three-quarters of this season remain and there will be more severe stretches of adversity on the horizon. Plus, no team puts up a banner for the best 20 games in franchise history.
As for the Penguins, it’s been a tough start to the season. Crosby (seven goals, 20 points in 21 games) and Malkin (five goals, 19 points in 21 games) continue to pace the offensive attack, but the supporting cast needs to step up.
St. Adolphe product Owen Pickering — who starred in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos — is set to play his third NHL game. The mobile, puck-moving defenceman chipped in an assist in his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks and played 17:39 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. This is a great opportunity for the Manitoban to establish himself as an NHL regular on a team that’s trying to incorporate some youth. Another Manitoba product in Winnipegger Cody Glass is currently sidelined by a concussion. Glass had four assists in 14 games before he was sidelined.
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 Stanley (mid-body)
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
FORWARDS:
- Beauvillier-Crosby-Rakell
- Bunting-Malkin-Rust
- Puljujarvi-O’Connor-Poulin
- Nieto-Acciari-Ponomarev
DEFENCE:
- Pettersson-Karlsson
- Grzelcyk-Letang (game-time decision)
- Pickering-Shea
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: F Puustinen, D Graves, D St. Ivany
INJURED: F Hayes (upper-body, game-time decision), F Lizotte (concussion), F Glass (concussion)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on Sidney Crosby, who isn’t showing many signs of slowing down at 37:
“I watch Sid and every year, whether he’s playing with star players or whether they’ve got him with young players, he makes the people around him so much better. That’s why when we come in here tonight, there’s no easy game. Especially with him being the captain. He’s not going to let us just come in here and do what we want. I’ve got special respect for him. Even with all these great young names in the game today, he’s still one of the elite.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Mike is in Pittsburgh and will have a pair of pieces coming from PPG Paints Arena.
First up is the weekly Dump & Chase column, along with Ken Wiebe, which has items on Manitoba’s Owen Pickering making his presence felt with the Penguins, former Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty speaking about those “Where is Rutger” chants recently heard at Canada Life Centre, and a look at how Winnipeg’s former players are doing in their new hockey homes including a sizzling start from Jack Roslovic in Carolina.
Mike will then have full game analysis of Jets versus Penguins from his press box perch, including locker room reaction. You can find both pieces online at winnipegfreepress.com
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