Halischuk waiting for his chance

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This article was published 10/10/2013 (4719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JACOB TROUBA has been a minutes-eating, every-situation defenceman from the moment the curtain raised on the Winnipeg Jets’ 2013-14 season.

Michael Frolik has two goals, one of them a game winner, ditto for Devin Setoguchi.

And Mark Scheifele has shown just enough flash with a goal and an assist in three games to make many feel he’ll be the perfect centre for snipers like Setoguchi and Evander Kane.

And then there is Matt Halishcuk, brought in this past summer after being cast adrift by the Nashville Predators, who has yet to even suit up for a regular-season game.

Difficult

Yes, it’s a little difficult to try and make a good first impression with new teammates while wiping the popcorn bits from your suit lapel in the press box.

All that could change in the next few days, however, with the Jets playing three times in four nights, beginning tonight in Minnesota against the Wild.

“That stuff is kind of out of your hands. You just try to come in and work hard, get some good practices in, some good training in and just be ready to go,” said Halischuk after practice Wednesday and just prior to the team heading out to Minny. “There’s not much else you can do.

“Everybody is here with the same goal — to win games. So, whether I’m in or not I just try to work hard and do my best and do whatever I can to get some wins in here.”

OUCH UPDATE/LINEUP WATCH: Noel said winger Chris Thorburn remains day-to-day with his injury. There’s also a possibility Al Montoya could get his first start in net, what with the Jets facing the Wild Thursday before returning home to face the Dallas Stars Friday and the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

“I’m not afraid of putting him in the game,” Noel said of Montoya. “He’s a guy that is going to have to play here soon so that would probably be a good time.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait