Brossoit collects Stanley Cup ring before Jets tilt with Golden Knights

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/11/2023 (705 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAS VEGAS — Is Dylan Samberg the NHL’s ultimate shutdown defenceman? At least one statistic suggests he just might be so far in this young season.

Entering play Thursday night in Las Vegas, the 24-year-old Winnipeg Jets blue-liner had been on the ice for 113 minutes and 52 seconds of five-on-five play. The number of times an opponent found the back of the net in that span? Zero.

To put that in perspective, no other player in the league, at any position, could boast such a lengthy scoreless streak. Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues was next best at 105 minutes, 42 seconds, with Montreal’s Sean Monahan third at 100 minutes, 52 seconds, according to the Natural StatTrick website.

“I did not know that. That’s pretty cool,” Samberg said Thursday following the morning skate. “It’s always a good thing when the puck’s not going in your net when you’re on the ice. I’m not going to complain about that one.”

Samberg is currently skating on the third pairing with Nate Schmidt and is being used in key situations, including the penalty kill, by a coaching staff filled with confidence in him.

“It says a lot about him,” Arniel said of Samberg’s perfect slate to date.

“He got to go to the World Championship (last spring) and play for the U.S. His experiences over the past year and a half have helped him become that kind of player. He’d like to add some offence to his game but at the same time he takes a lot of pride in what he does every time he’s on the ice.”

Samberg had two assists through nine games this year prior to facing the Golden Knights.

“I feel good out there, I feel comfortable. I feel like me and Schmitty are gelling well and building off what we did last year,” he said. “It’s always a plus when you’re not on the ice for a goal.”

Or, to put it another way, a plus when you’re not a minus.

***

You can add Neal Pionk’s name to the growing list of Jets players trying out neck protection.

Pionk is the fifth player to begin wearing a guard in the aftermath of the Adam Johnson tragedy last weekend in England. Nikolaj Ehlers, Cole Perfetti, Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Iafallo are the others.

Pionk and Johnson were good friends and teammates in both the USHL and at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

***

The sight of Gabriel Vilardi around the Jets locker room is certainly a welcome one. It isn’t, however a sign he’s close to returning from the sprained MCL he suffered on Oct. 17.

Vilardi’s timeline is four to six weeks and that hasn’t changed. Arniel said the 24-year-old forward won’t skate during this road trip, which continues with stops in Arizona on Saturday and St. Louis on Tuesday.

“We’re not near that,” said Arniel. “We had a function here that he wanted to be a part of (team rookie dinner). He’s back training, so he’ll be a part of our strength group there. But he wouldn’t be getting on the ice yet, no.”

Vilardi began the year on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor and had one assist through the two games and change that he played.

***

This was an extra-special trip back to Sin City for Jets backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit.

Although he didn’t get the starting assignment Thursday night, he did get a shiny souvenir to bring home with him. The Golden Knights presented Brossoit with his Stanley Cup ring prior to the game.

Brossoit was the starting goaltender for Vegas last spring and played a big role in downing the Jets in five games during the opening round. A major groin injury suffered during the third game of the second round against the Edmonton Oilers spelled the end of his playoff run — and his tenure with Vegas.

***

Thursday’s contest was the fifth straight with Arniel behind the bench as interim coach. Head coach Rick Bowness remains in Winnipeg with his wife, Judy, who suffered a seizure on Oct. 23 and is undergoing evaluation and testing.

“I talk to him every day,” Arniel said, noting the circumstances are quite different than last year when Bowness tested positive for COVID-19 and had to step away for several games.

“This time he’s got other concerns, but I have been getting the odd text telling me to check out this clip at this time,” he said. “They’re doing a little bit better, and we continue to talk on a regular basis.”

There is no timeline for his return to the team.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg