Breaking: Patrik Laine has a heavy shot

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This article was published 23/02/2019 (2387 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Patrik Laine’s confidence got a major boost Friday after he drilled his 26th and 27th goals of the year — the first time he’s lit the lamp since Jan. 13.

But just a day later, the glass was half empty.

The top portion of a sheet of Plexiglas behind the net at the Ice Den, the Coyotes practice facility, was blown to smithereens after a rocket off the stick of the Jets’ young forward sailed high.

The sound was deafening, fragments flew everywhere — including near a lunch table set up for the Jets — and maintenance workers had quite the cleanup.

Already off the ice and out of his gear, Winnipeg goalie Laurent Brossoit emerged from the dressing room to inspect the damage, smiled and said, “Looks like Patty’s back.”

Indeed, the velocity is there. Judging by his marksmanship in Vegas in a 6-3 win, his aim — a bucket of shattered glass notwithstanding — has also returned.

Both of his goals came with the Golden Knights a man short. After going seven games without a power-play goal (0-for-19), the Jets’ PP unit has struck in back-to-back games.

Winnipeg owns the NHL’s fourth most-lethal power play, with a 25.3 per cent effectiveness.

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Brossoit gets the start in net for the Jets tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. The Winnipeg backup goalie is 3-1-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average and .959 save percentage in four games against Pacific Division teams this season.

Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice will go with the same forward and defensive combinations he used in Vegas.

Prior to the game, Shane Doan, a former Jets 1.0 first-round draft pick who played a year in Winnipeg and another 20 seasons in Phoenix, will have his No. 19 jersey retired by the Coyotes.

Part of the ceremony will be broadcast prior to the game on TSN3.

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Laine wasn’t the only Jets forward to end a drought.

Adam Lowry’s crucial tally with just eight seconds left in the second period to boost the club’s lead to 4-2 was his first since Jan. 6 — a span of 19 games. The fifth-year centre, a punishing checker and deft faceoff man, has eight goals on the season.

He actually jumped out to a sensational start for a the year, scoring four in Winnipeg’s first eight contests of the year. But it’s been lean times since. He actually went 18 games without scoring from late October to early December.

“I’ve a couple of cold streaks. Oh, believe me, I know,” said Lowry, who has 49 goals in 340 NHL games.

“It was nice to get one in a meaningful moment. It had been a while and it weighs on you. I know Patty went 15 without a goal and, obviously, I don’t do what he does. But it’s still a part of your game where you’d like to contribute.”

Lowry was a scorer in junior, netting 45 goals in his final year in Swift Current (2012-13), but that’s not the role he fulfils with the Jets. He and his usual linemates, Brandon Tanev and Andrew Copp, do their best work shutting down the offensive weapons of their opponents.

Still, it’s nice to contribute on the scoreboard, he said.

“I get a lot of minutes, and it’s meaningful to any team when you get depth scoring, so it was a bit of a relief to get that over with.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell