Harkins makes good impression in first NHL game

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This article was published 21/12/2019 (2087 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jansen Harkins will never forget the afternoon he spent in St. Paul.

Promoted just days ago, the 22-year-old from North Vancouver played his first NHL game and earned his first assist in the third period in the Winnipeg Jets’ dominant 6-0 decision over the Minnesota Wild.

Harkins has been a point-a-game player this season (7G, 24A in 30 games) with the Manitoba Moose and is tied for third in American Hockey League scoring.

Now, he’s a point-a-game guy in The Show.

Could Winnipeg’s second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and middle son of former NHLer Todd Harkins have scripted things any better?

“If everything goes well, right? (Just) exciting just to be able to play. Getting the point is just an added bonus. I felt good. Obviously, some nerves at the start. But once I settled in, it got a bit simpler out there,” said Harkins, who patrolled the left wing on the fourth line with Nick Shore and Logan Shaw.

Joona Luoto was a healthy scratch, along with defenceman Carl Dahlstrom.

Harkins stormed to the net and slipped the puck back to Shaw, left alone in the low slot, at 7:53 of the final period for Shaw’s second goal in four games.

Shaw, whose own call-up from the Moose came in late October, promptly scooped up the memento for safekeeping.

“He obviously knew it was my first one. It was good to have Shawsy out there, some familiarity. It was just a really fun night,” said Harkins, whose teammates stayed in the tunnel while he took the traditional solo twirl around the Jets end to begin the pre-game warmup.

“That’s probably the thing I was most nervous about, to be honest, making sure I don’t fall. Made it through that alright, and then just excited to get my first shift under my belt and just go from there,” he said.

Harkins played two seasons on the wing for Moose head coach Pascal Vincent, but was moved to his natural position at centre for the 2019-20 campaign.

Head coach Paul Maurice gave him the news when he arrived at Xcel Energy Center in the morning. Family couldn’t make it to St. Paul in time for the big debut.

“I gave my dad a call once I found out. But it was pretty bang-bang,” Harkins said.

“Excited, obviously. It came out of nowhere, just because we didn’t hear about it (Friday) night. Just tried to get ready as quickly as I could.”

The bench exploded after the goal, even though the final result wasn’t in doubt.

“It’s awesome. I remember my first points and it’s always special. Doesn’t matter if you’re winning 6-0 or losing 6-0, it’s still your first point and you’re always going to remember that,” Patrik Laine said.

“So, it was a great pass by Harks and we’re happy for him.”

Harkins played 13 shifts for 9:31 of ice time, was a plus-one and — most importantly — made a good first impression on his new coach.

“I enjoyed his game. He skated hard, went into the hard areas, not afraid at all. Got some hands, made a nice play on the goal. But also did a bunch of really smart things. I can’t say enough about the job Pascal Vincent and his staff did. Because he was systematically right on. There were no first-game mistakes,” Maurice said.

“He’s worked hard to get his chance and made the most of it. More important than the individual, I liked the way the line played.”

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The Jets love those matinee matchups.

The Central Division squad is now 6-0 in afternoon games and has eight more to go before the end of the regular season.

“Good question. No morning skate. Those are boring,” Laine said, when queried about the afternoon delight.

“I just think everyone’s ready right away. For me, too, just trying to find ways to be ready with no morning skate. Just be mentally and physically ready when the puck drops. Everybody was ready (Saturday).”

No.1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck likely won’t get many of those afternoon contests off. He’s six-for-six with a pair of shutouts.

“I have a lot of energy… I do have a niche for these games, I guess, and so does our team,” Hellebuyck said.

“We play hard and, I guess, it just suits the way we play. We come with some energy and ready to battle.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell