Jets call up help from Moose

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This article was published 18/01/2016 (3644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“DECIMATED” fits. So does “depleted.” The Winnipeg Jets have been down this road before and they’ll travel it again this week, with three key forwards missing from the lineup.

All of this in a week that features three games, two against Central Division rivals — tonight versus the Colorado Avalanche and Thursday against the Nashville Predators. It’s also the start of a season-high run of six games at the MTS Centre.

Drew Stafford and Adam Lowry were placed on injured reserve Sunday, retroactive to Jan. 14, joining Mark Scheifele in sick bay. All three were out of the lineup for Friday’s 1-0 win over the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, for which Stafford and Lowry were late scratches.

“We’ll have a better idea by (today) of (how long they’ll be out),” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “You get better information as to exactly what you’re dealing with. I was hopeful that they would feel a lot better the next day and they didn’t.”

With their forward crew hammered by hurts, the Jets recalled Patrice Cormier and JC Lipon from the Manitoba Moose Sunday afternoon. Cormier, 25, is being recalled for the second time this season after playing one game with the Jets in November. He has 12 points (6G, 6A) in 34 games with the Moose this season. The 22-year-old Lipon has 17 points (8G, 9A) in 30 games.

Scheifele has been out with a lower-body injury since slamming into the end boards in Dallas Jan. 7, and with both Stafford and Lowry late scratches, Adam Pardy was converted from defence to forward to skate on the team’s fourth line.

The Jets had their same line combos at Sunday’s practice, with Bryan Little centring Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler, Mathieu Perreault between Joel Armia and Nikolaj Ehlers, Alex Burmistrov between Chris Thorburn and Matt Halischuk and Andrew Copp centring Pardy and Anthony Peluso. But that could change with the promotions of Cormier and Lipon.

Asked how the call-up process would work prior to the announcement, Maurice said:

“I’ll tell (general manager) Kevin (Cheveldayoff) what I’m thinking with the lines and the hole I need filled and what I’m looking for from a player. Then the guys that watch that team every day, that know where each player is at, will pick the guy for us.”

Scheifele, FYI, was on the ice prior to practice Sunday, as was injured goaltender Ondrej Pavelec.

NOTABLE NUMBERS: Blake Wheeler has three goals over the last four games, including back-to-back game-winners Thursday against Nashville and Friday in Minny. His four game-winning goals has him just two back of the career best of six he set last year… Wheeler has 23 points (8G, 15A) in 17 career games against the Avs.

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PRAISE FOR PERREAULT: Jets centre Mathieu Perreault has become the new Michael Frolik with this year’s squad — a versatile winger/centre teammates want to play with because he brings out their best.

“He’s a much more complete player now than when he got to us,” said Maurice. “He went out to the wing and had a bit of success. Now he’s come back to centre, his natural position, probably the one he likes the most and he’s been great. Defensively, just all parts of his game (are built on) sheer effort and his determination. Then there’s the finish and playmaking. He’s one of those guys that everyone likes to play with. If you’re playing with Mathieu you’re going to get the puck. He’ll make plays for you.”

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait