Winnipeg Jets Notebook

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This article was published 09/12/2014 (3949 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THERE were a bunch of familiar faces taking in Winnipeg Jets practice Monday morning prior to the team heading out on its two-game road trip.

Well, sort of familiar.

The trek to Dallas and Denver this week is the team’s annual “Guest Trip” where the players bring fathers, brothers or friends along for a glimpse at life as an NHLer. The similarities between brothers and dads sitting in the crowd and those on the ice was obvious.

“My dad came in on Saturday and he’s pretty excited about it,” said Michael Hutchinson of his father, Lloyd. “It’s awesome. He’s seen me play a couple of times over the years, but ever since I finished playing junior hockey he hasn’t really been around on game days and stuff. It’s nice for him to see what goes on behind the scenes.

“He’s been to a couple of games (since Hutchinson joined the Jets), but this will be the first time on the road that he’s seen me play. So that will be a good experience.”

PAPER MOVE: The Jets announced D Grant Clitsome was placed on the injured list retroactive to Nov. 29. Clitsome did practise with the team on Monday, but was wearing a powder-blue no contact jersey.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Jets make pit stops in Dallas and Denver this week and then are home for four games, beginning with a rematch with Anaheim on Saturday. After this two-game trip to Texas and Colorado, the Jets will play eight of their next 10 at home.

Winnipeg is now 6-5-2 at the MTS Centre after opening the year with three losses in its first four home games.

“It’s something we needed,” said Bryan Little of the just-completed 2-0-1 homestand. “We’ve got a really good road record, but we needed to play well at home and have a big week. Five out of six points is pretty good.”

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NOTABLE: The Jets began the 2014-15 season with Evander Kane, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler touted as their new No. 1 line. That trio has since been broken up, with Wheeler back alongside Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd; Scheifele centering Adam Lowry and Matt Halischuk and Kane — before his suspension — working with Mathieu Perreault and Michael Frolik.

Worth noting: Wheeler, who has eight goals, is in a 10-game goal-less drought; Scheifele (three goals this season) hasn’t scored in eight games and Kane (four goals), hasn’t scored in five.

— Ed Tait