Stamkos studies Jets, likes Laine’s skills

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/12/2018 (2455 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STEVE Stamkos can’t shut the game off when he’s away from the rink.

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s top-line centre is a self-proclaimed hockey and highlight-watcher and admits he’s blown away by the body of work Winnipeg forward Patrik Laine has put together just shy of the midway point of his third NHL season.

Stamkos, one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers for a decade, said the young Finn not only uses his strength to fire pucks but wields the appropriate weapon for the job.

“You look at the elite shooters around the league and everyone’s got different styles and different sticks, different flexes, different patterns,” said Stamkos, a point-a-game player (15G, 18A) this year. “He really lets the stick do a lot of the work and just snaps it. It’s so impressive how fast he can get it off. He doesn’t really need his hands set in a certain position to snap that puck.

“I was watching that St. Louis game when he had five, and it’s on his stick for a second and the goalie doesn’t even have time to react. It’s impressive, not too many guys can release the puck like that, and that’s why you catch goalies off guard. They’re so good these days that if you give them an extra second to set, they’re probably going to stop it. But if you catch them off guard with a quick one-timer or a quick release, you’re going to score. He’s mastered that, for sure.”

Stamkos, 28, now in his 11th NHL campaign, has an overall game that’s far superior to the Jets star who’s eight years his junior. However, there’s an eerie similarity to the career starts of the two right-handed snipers.

From the opening night of his rookie season (2008-09) to the 10-week mark of his third season (2010-11), Stamkos had collected 100 goals in 194 games. Laine, meanwhile, scored 103 goals in 187 games during the same time span.

Laine’s on pace to eclipse the 50-goal mark for the first time in his career, while Stamkos might not light the lamp with the same regularity but already has a 60-goal campaign on his resumé (2011-12) and three other seasons with at least 43 goals or more. The two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner is still among the gold standard by which all other scorers are judged.

● ● ●

Josh Morrissey is establishing himself as a highly effective third wheel on the Jets’ lethal first overtime unit.

Head coach Paul Maurice has consistently assigned forwards Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler the opening shift. Lately, Morrissey has been pegged as the starting blue-liner behind them — a departure from the traditional choice of Dustin Byfuglien.

Both are gifted skaters, puck-handlers and shooters, but Morrissey’s defensive reads are, perhaps, more sound than those of big No. 33 during the high-octane, three-on-three sessions. Indeed, some chemistry has been sparked by the trio.

The move paid huge dividends last week in a couple of OT victories, so expect the Jets to go with what’s working the next time a game’s knotted after 60 minutes.

Morrissey said he’s loving the unique opportunity.

“It’s exciting to go onto the ice with those two guys. Just try to make the play that’s there, get open if you can, and when they find you, usually they’re going to give you a good pass, let them work their magic,” he said. “I understand as well as anyone that when you get to play with those two, it’s an honour.”

Morrissey streaked away with the elite forwards on a three-on-two and fired the winner past Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot in a 5-4 triumph over the Oilers on Thursday.

Just 24 hours later in Chicago, the same trio broke away on an odd-man rush and Morrissey had an open look, but was stopped by Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.

Seconds later, Scheifele gobbled up a puck behind the cage, swooped around and beat Crawford to hand the visitors a 4-3 win and a crucial extra point.

“Déja vu, it would have been nice to have it go in the same way two games in a row, but he made a good save and it was nice we got the puck back and Scheif did the rest. Just two big games to win,” Morrissey said.

Interestingly, both the Oilers and Blackhawks had possession of the puck off the centre-ice faceoff but couldn’t connect early. That created the odd-man rush the other way.

Morrissey said playing wisely without the puck is the only way to survive in overtime.

“You have to keep a team to the outside, communicate defensively and try and attack them if you can. We try to be patient, and when we get the puck, just go make something happen. But, also keep control of the puck if a chance isn’t immediately there, because it can be hard to get it back.”

● ● ●

Jets forward Andrew Copp (concussion symptoms) skated with the full group Sunday morning, but wore a yellow no-contact jersey.

Maurice said the next step in his recovery is to participate in battle drills during practice. There’s no timetable for his return to the lineup.

Copp suffered a concussion after Minnesota’s J.T. Brown took him into the boards Nov. 23 in St. Paul.

He missed three games, but returned for two in early December — scoring his second goal of the season in New Jersey — but was sidelined again with symptoms and has been out for seven more.

● ● ●

Line of the morning Sunday from the Jets’ dressing room:

“Get ready for Round 13.”

Jets centre Adam Lowry, when asked what he’s thinking on the bench while he watches thrilling three-on-three overtime sessions.

Clearly, he knows exactly where he slots in on the pecking order if a shootout’s required.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell