Stanley ‘phenomenal’ against Sharks
Towering blue-liner saves best for last as Dillon suspension set to end
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/02/2024 (600 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Logan Stanley saved his best for last.
Knowing Wednesday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks might be it for a while, the towering Winnipeg Jets defenceman had the type of performance that certainly earned him another look — whenever that might be.
A team-high 11 shot attempts, including four on goal. A terrific outlet pass to spring teammate Nino Niederreiter on a breakaway (he was stopped). A massive hit that knocked Sharks forward Nico Sturm out of the game. Mostly solid all-around defensive play as part of a 1-0 victory.

Matt Slocum / The Associated Press
Jets’ defenceman Logan Stanley had 11 shot attempts, with four on goal, Wednesay against the Sharks.
“He was phenomenal,” said Jets centre Mark Scheifele.
“He made a lot of really good plays, a lot of really good passes, he was big and strong. When you have a guy that’s his size who is big and physical, not many guys will go to the net against him. When he’s there he’s a presence. Obviously not being in the lineup for a bunch of games, he’s finally kinda getting into his rhythm. I thought he played awesome tonight.”
Stanley, 25, had been a healthy scratch for 21 straight games before Brenden Dillon was given a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head last Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. The veteran was then slapped with a three-game suspension for the play, which injured Penguins forward Noel Acciari.
That finally opened the door for the patient Stanley, who was the only extra defenceman on the roster after Declan Chisholm was recently placed on waivers and claimed by the Minnesota Wild.
He was just OK last Thursday in Philadelphia in a 4-1 loss to the Flyers, then had a much better game in Saturday’s rematch against the Penguins which the Jets won 2-1 to snap a five-game winless streak. Stanley registered his first point of the season, an assist on a Niederreiter goal, and took two penalties with his physical play — including one that left former teammate Jansen Harkins with a concussion.
Now, in his latest effort, Stanley was a force and showed that going with him, while giving Ville Heinola more time with the Manitoba Moose to get back up to speed after breaking his ankle at the end of the training camp, was a smart move by the organization.
“A couple plays you want back, but that’s everyone and every game. Definitely a little more comfortable,” is how Stanley assessed his play.
“It just comes with repetition and being in those game situations. That’s it. You know, it’s tough to sit out. You try to replicate it in practice, but it’s hard to do that. You’re not trying to hit, you’re not at that intensity level that a game is. There’s a few areas I’d like to keep improving on, but we can keep working on those and hopefully get better.”
Jets coach Rick Bowness has wanted his team to put more pucks on net in an attempt to spark the struggling offence. Although they only scored a single goal, Stanley played a big part in the offensive attack by putting plenty of pucks in the direction of San Jose goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen.
“The goals will come. But to play good team defence and dominate in our own end, that’s important,” said Stanley. “We got enough firepower, we’re going to score lots of goals. Every team goes through a little bit of a dry spell. But to keep them off, that’s important. And we’re proud of that.”
Stanley thought he’d once again set up Niederreiter for a 2-0 lead when the Swiss forward had a glorious second period chance on the solo dash he set up.
“I kinda turned and got my head up. He was kinda waving his stick,” Stanley said of the pass. “I didn’t even see the move, actually, because I got hit there after. I had to ask him what happened. He was in a good spot, and I just made a good pass.”
Then came the big hit that left Sturm wobbly in the third period.
“That’s part of my job. Just ride him out hard. You hate to see him get hurt, but that’s part of the game. I gotta play that way,” said the 6-7, 231 pound Stanley.
He knows he’s likely headed back to the press box, with Dillon able to return when the team faces the Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday night. At the very least, he’s given coaches and managment something to think about.
“You know Dilly is coming back and Dilly’s gonna play. He’s a great player,” he said. “So, you know, whatever happens, hopefully they just see that we’ve got seven guys that can play, and hopefully it’s not as long of a break if I do get taken out.”
mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
X: @mikemcintyrewpg

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
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