Rugged Blues bring out the beast in Jets

By: Ed Tait Posted: 3:00 AM CST Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015

THEY are nasty, intense affairs filled with that little extra angst and the verbal sparring that makes any Winnipeg Jets-St. Louis Blues game feel like a playoff tilt.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

THEY are nasty, intense affairs filled with that little extra angst and the verbal sparring that makes any Winnipeg Jets-St. Louis Blues game feel like a playoff tilt.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/12/2015 (3578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THEY are nasty, intense affairs filled with that little extra angst and the verbal sparring that makes any Winnipeg Jets-St. Louis Blues game feel like a playoff tilt.

And it’s why guys such as Chris Thorburn relish every nanosecond of them.

“There’s a lot of emotion and they’re physical, fast, speed games. Those are fun to be a part of,” said the Jets winger. “We’re prepared. It’s a divisional game, and we all know our record within the division this year. So it’s going to be a big game and a big test for us.”

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press
Paul Maurice — Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press Paul Maurice

The Jets are just 3-9 vs. Central Division foes after going 16-8-5 against their own neighbourhood a year ago. Winnipeg has just one win in its last eight against the Central as well, and it’s a big reason why they entered play Monday night closer to the bottom of the Western Conference standings than a playoff spot.

“We know what to expect with them,” said defenceman Jacob Trouba of facing the Blues. “We have a lot of experience with them. It’s going to be a tough, physical game, a grinding game, another Central Division game.”We have to get better in these type of games so we’re looking forward to it.”

The Jets are 5-5 in their last 10, but have been insisting their game is closer to the foundation everyone saw last year en route to a playoff spot.

“We feel in here we’re trending in the right direction, we just haven’t got the right results,” said Thorburn. “So that’s on us. The quicker we can fix that and put some wins together, the better for us down the stretch near the end of the season. Our mindset going into this one is it’s a new game. As long we’re playing the right way, give ourselves a chance to win, and hopefully we end up on top.”

THE OTHER DUO: While the decision to move Trouba alongside Dustin Byfuglien — and keep the Toby Enstrom-Tyler Myers pairing intact — was drawing a lot of attention over the last few days, the third pairing shouldn’t be overlooked. It now features Ben Chiarot and Mark Stuart and, like Trouba before him, Jets coach Paul Maurice is hoping the veteran’s experience rubs off on his new young partner.

Stuart, FYI, will play in his 598th NHL game against the Blues.

“Players have always learned far more from the guy they sit beside on the bench than they do from the guy standing behind the bench,” said Maurice. “Not just in the game, but the mentality of the game. Younger guys learn so much more from the veteran guys they sit with, and Mark has always had the level of intensity that we like in our back end.”

OUCH REPORT: Centre Mark Scheifele was absent from practice Monday but Maurice said the team’s leading goal scorer will not miss a game and will be back in uniform against the Blues.

“He’s fine,” Maurice said. “He’ll be in the lineup tomorrow. Morning skate, too. We’re just getting him back to 100 per cent.”

Scheifele leads the team with 11 goals this season. He also has eight assists for 19 points in the team’s first 30 games.

NOTABLE: Winger Blake Wheeler has dumped his beard in favour of the clean-shaven look. Asked Monday about losing one of his bearded brothers, Thorburn cracked: “It’s kind of emotional. He said it’s out of style now. Apparently when he shaves it’s out of style. It looks odd. It’s kind of creepy. I thought the beard suited him.”

FYI: The Jets have won their last three home games and are 4-1 in their last five at the MTS Centre… Thorburn will tie Ilya Kovalchuk for top spot on the Jets/Thrashers all-time games-played list at 594 tonight against the Blues. Thorburn has been with the franchise since 2007 and also sits atop the franchise leaderboard for penalty minutes with 693.

— with files from Tim Campbell

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