‘We’re not done yet’: Arniel

Scott Arniel typically presents as calm, cool and collected when he stands in front of the media to speak about his hockey club.

But behind closed doors? Well, let’s just say his club’s late-season pursuit of a playoff spot — along with nightly out-of-town scoreboard watching — is taking an emotional toll on the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets.

“I almost threw something through the TV with the score in Anaheim,” Arniel said Wednesday with a laugh. He was referring to Tuesday’s 5-0 victory by the Predators over the Ducks that puts Nashville in the final Western Conference wildcard spot, four points clear of Winnipeg.

“For all of us, it is a mental roller-coaster.”

The Jets, to their credit, are doing their part to hold on for the ride. They’ll take a two-game winning streak into St. Louis on Thursday night in what is yet another “must win” game.

“Guys have done a fantastic job of focusing from that Olympic break until now,” Arniel said.

“I know it’s easy to say focus on ourselves and one game, but I can’t stress enough how our leadership group, how our whole team as a group has stayed focused on what we can control. This group is recognizing they have a responsibility to play until the very end. I’m proud of them for doing that. We’re not done yet.”

No, they’re not. But one more loss over these final five games will likely do it. Winnipeg will be facing a St. Louis team that should have even more desperation — the Blues are two points behind the Jets, and six points behind the Predators, with five regular-season games remaining. They need to run the table, and also get plenty of help.

Winnipeg ended St. Louis’ season last spring by way of the “Manitoba Miracle” in Game 7 of their epic first-round playoff series. Now, a chance to basically do the same thing to the Blues, albeit on a slightly smaller stage.

“For all of us, it is a mental roller-coaster.”

It won’t be easy. The Jets (12-5-4) and Blues (13-4-3) are actually the top two teams in the Western Conference since the Olympic break.

“They made some changes (at the trade deadline), they moved some senior people out that had been there. There’s some young guys that have taken a step. They’re fast, they play fast,” said Arniel.

This is the fourth meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals, with the home team winning the previous three. Expect another tight, low-scoring, tight-checking affair, considering 10 combined goals have been scored in those three games (1-0 St. Louis, 3-1 Winnipeg, 3-2 Winnipeg).

“Maybe it’s just one of those matchups that everybody’s aware of and doesn’t want to make the mistake,” said Jets forward Kyle Connor, who leads the team with 38 goals.

“For us, obviously, we want to be a team that defends first, so we take pride in that and that low number, but also not taking away from our offence. We’ve always stressed that we build through that.”

St. Louis has made a late-season surge before, most recently last year when they snuck into the playoffs and then gave Winnipeg, which had won the Presidents’ Trophy for compiling the best overall regular season record, all they could handle. The Blues had an even more memorable run in 2019 where they went from dead last at Christmas to the Stanley Cup in June.

Winnipeg has less experience in this department, although recent results suggest they’re handling increased pressure just fine.

“It’s coming down to just whoever wants it more,” said Connor. “It’s part of the process. I mean, it’s the position we put ourselves in.”

Based on Wednesday’s practice, expect the Jets to roll with the same lineup against the Blues as they did Monday night against Seattle. Forward Morgan Barron (lower-body) and Elias Salomonsson (concussion protocol) did not skate and remain on the injury list. Gus Nyquist (undisclosed) and Colin Miller (lower-body) were both in non-contact sweaters and remain out as well.

“It’s coming down to just whoever wants it more.”

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck did not skate, but that’s just maintenance as he manages a hectic schedule. He’ll make an eighth-straight start in net — and 19th in the past 21 games — as the Jets ride their workhorse in a major way.

Some milestones are now in sight. Connor needs two more goals to reach 40 for the third time in his career. Gabe Vilardi needs one more goal to hit 30 for the first time. And Mark Scheifele needs three more points to hit the century mark for the first time.

All three will have an easier time accomplishing those goals if the power play can pick up where it left off in Monday’s dominant 6-2 win over the Kraken. Winnipeg went 3-for-3, sparked by Jonathan Toews joining Connor, Vilardi, Scheifele and Josh Morrissey on the No. 1 unit.

“It’s nice to just go out there and sometimes changing things up like that, for whatever reason, sparks a goal or two or you work for a bounce,” said Toews. “I’m trying to free up pucks, win some battles, win some draws and facilitate and let them make plays and do what they do.”

MOOSE ARE LOOSE: There’s no such playoff angst down on the farm, where the Manitoba Moose officially punched their post-season ticket with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night over the Milwaukee Admirals at Canada Life Centre.

The American Hockey League club is likely destined for a best-of-three play-in series by virtue of finishing fourth in the Central Division. Their opponent is probably going to be the very same Admirals, who are the affiliate of Nashville and sit in fifth place.

Manitoba and Milwaukee faced each other again on Wednesday at the downtown rink. The Moose have five regular-season games remaining — two at home this weekend against the Texas Stars, who are third in the division and still potentially catchable, followed by road games next week in Chicago and Iowa (twice).

The AHL playoffs begin the week of April 20.

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