Refocus best way to tackle playoff series: Copp

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This article was published 06/05/2018 (2685 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NASHVILLE — Andrew Copp is figuring out quickly how tough a beast a Stanley Cup playoff series can be.

These best-of-seven series are all new to the Winnipeg Jets forward, who admitted Saturday afternoon they take a toll on the mind, body and spirit.

An immediate refocus from one day to the next is the only way to set up for success, he said.

“It’s definitely different than anything I’ve ever done. But the mantra that I’ve always had, even going back to my time in Michigan, is to just attack (each) day as it comes,” Copp said, as the Jets prepared to face the Nashville Predators in Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena.

Copp, 23, played three years with the University of Michigan Wolverines and faced many of the same NCAA opponents, including plenty of back-to-backs, but never in rapid-fire succession like in the Jets’ first-round series against the Minnesota Wild or the current war with the Predators.

Copp maintains the Jets try and wipe the slate clean after each contest with the powerful yellow machine from Tennessee, which is driving hard to return to the NHL final after losing the 2017 championship to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But it’s impossible to completely separate one battle from the next.

“It’s different when you draw the same team every time. It’s interesting. But I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “We’re starting to have that bad blood that comes with being familiar with one another.

“Games are way more important in the playoffs. Losses hurt more. But you can’t get too down. You try and stay with that mental consistency. It’s a best-of-three now, a new challenge for us.”

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The Jets boasted their largest group of the season Saturday for a game-day skate, as 25 forwards and defenceman along with three goalies worked out.

Indeed, it was rare to see such a healthy group running through some easy drills by head coach Paul Maurice and the rest of his coaching staff.

“This will the first game this year since Paul Stastny’s arrival (end of February). So, it’s exceptionally unique in our situation,” Maurice said. “It’s exciting. We’ve waited for it. We’re getting pretty good at moving the pieces around and still finding success, but we’ll get everybody out there tonight and let ’er rip.”

Defenceman Dmitry Kulikov, out with a back injury for seven weeks, has been cleared to play, but is still finding his legs, and it would be difficult to insert him into a heated series with the Predators at this stage.

Joel Armia returned from a lower-body injury and played Game 4 in Winnipeg, while Mathieu Perreault rejoined the Jets on Saturday night.

While others are playing through pain, Maurice can, for the most part, hand-pick his optimal lineup. But no major alterations were expected Saturday night, beyond Perreault slotting in for Matt Hendricks.

“By the time you get to this stage, you’re into your roles and into your lines for the most part. The real benefit is in the room. We’ve got good guys that have come in and we’ve handled it all year, everybody has got their unique personality, everybody is really well liked. (Perreault), as you know, has got a great personality on him. So, having him in the room, it makes for a good place,” Maurice said.

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Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said it’s a huge lift when the whole gang’s back together.

“As you know, all year long we’ve had injuries and guys are always playing with bumps and bruises. It’s nice to have guys coming back off injury. It takes more than the 20 guys playing in the game if you want to win series and you want to keep advancing,” he said.

“You look at all the teams that have done well in the Stanley Cup playoffs forever, and it’s a different guy every night stepping up, different guy scoring a goal or making a big play. We believe we have those types of guys in this room.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell