Prominent prospects will get opportunity to get right back at it

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This article was published 24/09/2014 (4022 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE decisions will come during the day today but the Winnipeg Jets were set up to practice on Tuesday like four of their prominent prospects will be in line to face the Edmonton Oilers tonight at the MTS Centre at 7 p.m.

Forwards Adam Lowry, Nic Petan and Nikolaj Ehlers all participated on Monday against Minnesota and for practice Tuesday were moved over to the group that will face the Oilers.

Head coach Paul Maurice said defenceman Josh Morrissey could also play again tonight.

“We need to take a good look at the younger players early on to see who’s going to squeeze through and get the chance later in exhibition,” Maurice said.

Lowry said he will welcome the opportunity to get right back at it, never mind the taxing pace the coach has set in camp.

“Yeah, I think if I’m able to get in the lineup tomorrow, you want to take advantage of every opportunity,” he said. “The more chances you get to play in games, the more you get to show what you do well and leave an impact on the coaching staff as well as the general manager.

“I thought it (Monday) went pretty well. I was able to do what I do that makes me successful. I thought I was able to get in on the forecheck and knock some bodies around. I thought I had a good stick and we had a strong PK last night so I thought I was able to contribute in that area of the game.”

• The day-to-day read on some early bumps and bruises could determine some of tonight’s lineup decisions.

For instance, right-winger Dustin Byfuglien didn’t practice Tuesday. He played limited third-period minutes on Monday because of a minor lower-body injury the team says is lingering but not serious.

Also, veteran defenceman Mark Stuart skated again Tuesday but isn’t yet 100 per cent, the coach indicated.

Centre Eric O’Dell, who finished the season well with the Jets, is out for a longer stretch with an upper-body problem.

• Second-year defenceman Jacob Trouba tried to calm a concerned question on Tuesday, one asking about his first pre-season game tonight.

“That’s what the games are for, to get that feel,” Trouba said. “Just get your feet back under you. Don’t try to do anything super-crazy. Just play your game and get back in the swing of things.”

He said he’s not taking anything for granted in Year 2 of his NHL career that started off so brightly in 2013-14.

“I don’t think you can ever say you’re comfortable here,” Trouba said. “That’s when you get in trouble. But definitely knowing more guys and knowing what’s expected of me going into it makes me a little more comfortable.”

• Maurice was fairly cryptic in remarks about heavyweight Anthony Peluso, who egged on the crowd after his Monday night bout against Minnesota’s Stu Bickel.

“I think that it’s important that… I’ve had my discussion with Anthony as I do on a lot of days as to his performance,” Maurice said. “I like the hockey part of his game and sometimes those things happen and he’s going to get in some fights.”

Maurice did not mention the showboating but there may be something between the lines there.

• Michael Frolik’s agent will no doubt be filing this away, but Maurice was raving again Tuesday about the forward’s value.

“That was true before I got here,” Maurice said. “This guy’s a player. Let’s just say whoever Mike Frolik plays with plays well.

“Mike is a good solution to a lot of your issues.”

Frolik’s eventual spot in the mix of the top six or nine forwards seems yet to be determined. He had time with some youngsters, as well as Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little on Monday.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca