Winnipeg Jets Notebook

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This article was published 05/01/2015 (4221 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Clitsome misses practice, status day-to-day

THE Jets expect to find out today whether hopes or fears will win the day on defenceman Grant Clitsome.

Clitsome missed Sunday’s practice and was spending the day being checked out by the team’s medical staff for an undisclosed problem. Coach Paul Maurice wouldn’t specify the issue, saying only that Clitsome was likely day-to-day and that he was as likely to be in tonight’s lineup against the San Jose Sharks as he was to be sent to join an already overpopulated injury list.

Clitsome, who has been matched with newcomer Jay Harrison and playing important second-pairing minutes since just before Christmas, played 20 minutes and 20 seconds Saturday night. He missed the last half of last season because of a back injury that required surgery, but there was no indication from the team that it’s the area of concern this time.

Winnipeg is already without defencemen Toby Enstrom, Zach Bogosian, Jacob Trouba and Mark Stuart due to long-term ailments. The earliest any of them may return is later this month, when Enstrom and Bogosian are projected to rejoin the lineup.

MORE ‘CLUTCH-INSON’: Another day of the NHL regular season passes, another day with Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson leading the league in goals-against average (1.81) and save percentage (.937). But don’t expect the rookie netminder to fuel the current goaltender debate and the notion he has replaced Ondrej Pavelec as the team’s No. 1 puck stopper.

Asked if he was starting to feel like a No. 1 NHL goalie, Hutchinson simply flashed a smile before adding:

“Not at all. I’m just enjoying playing a little bit more frequently right now. My main focus is just trying to help the team win in games I do play.

“Whether I’m playing every other night or once every two weeks doesn’t really matter — your job’s the same as a goalie.”

Fair comment. Fact is, however, Hutchinson has started four of the last five games for the Jets and — as has been the case most nights since an iffy start at the beginning of the season — has been steady. He is now 10-3-3.

“It’s fun. It’s always fun playing games,” said Hutchinson. “This year I’ve been playing more than I would have thought at the start of the season, so I really can’t complain with how the season’s going. I don’t think (who is No. 1) really matters. As long as the team’s winning games, it doesn’t matter who plays or what the rotation is.”

PUTTING THE POWER IN POWER PLAY: The Jets have five power-play goals in the past five games and at least one man-advantage marker in three straight. Since ending a seven-game streak without a power-play goal Nov. 25, the Jets are 16-for-60 (26.7%).

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LITTLE BIG MAN: Bryan Little had three points in Saturday’s win over Toronto, extending his consecutive point streak (3G, 6A) to six games dating back to Dec. 21. Blake Wheeler, meanwhile, is on a five-game (2G, 4A) points streak.

NOTABLE: Ben Chiarot had a goal and an assist and posted a +4 rating in the Jets’ 5-1 win over Toronto. According to Elias Sports Bureau the last time in franchise history a rookie had two points and +4 rating was Zach Bogosian on Jan. 17, 2009.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FPTimCampbell @WFPEdTait