Connor, Schmidt give Jets timely boost

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This article was published 04/04/2022 (1369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the Winnipeg Jets enter the final stretch of the NHL regular season with their playoff chances hanging by a thread, they’ll take any good news they can get these days. A lucky bounce here, some help on the out-of-town scoreboard there. You get the picture.

The hockey club got a double dose of it Monday as leading scorer Kyle Connor and top offensive defenceman Nate Schmidt were back on the ice after an extended stay down south while in COVID-19 protocol.

“Outstanding. Gets our group excited,” interim coach Dave Lowry said following a spirited, 45-minute practice at Canada Life Centre. “And you know what? They came out and they put some life and energy in the group.”

Winnipeg could use some of that after losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings — without the services of Connor and Schmidt — have them in a perilous position. At 33-27-10, the Jets are six points out of the final Western Conference wildcard spot currently held by Vegas with just 12 games remaining.

“In the broad scope of what we have left and what we face, bringing your leading goal scorer back into your lineup and bringing a top-six defenceman back into your lineup, it’s going to give you energy. It’s going to give you a boost,” said Lowry. “These are NHL players coming back in and they’ll help us find ways to win hockey games.”

They’re going to need a pile of those coming up, and anything short of 10 will likely keep them on the outside looking in. Up next are the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.

“It’s obviously tough going through a little stretch when you can’t be on the ice,” said Connor, who has 41 goals and 41 assists through 67 games, which are career highs. “You can’t look at the games you missed and what could have been. You have to focus on the 12 games we have left here, 12 games as a team. If it happens, it happens, but I’m focused on trying to help my team win every single night and take care of it that way.”

Connor and Schmidt both tested positive last Wednesday morning, just as they were preparing to face the Buffalo Sabres later that night. Because the Jets were flying to Toronto after the game to face the Maple Leafs the next night, they were required to get swabbed under existing Canadian regulations which were removed last Friday.

“I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t have to test,” said Schmidt, who has four goals and 27 assists in 66 games. “So, it’s a bummer. I felt great the whole time. It stinks when you have to sit at home and watch the team play.”

It wasn’t a complete surprise, considering they were the only two players on the Jets roster who had yet to get the virus this season. Connor didn’t have it before this year, either, while Schmidt had two positives last season while playing in Vancouver.

“It’s something a lot of people have gone through on our team, throughout the league. It was definitely tough.” said Connor. “I probably never would’ve never found out if we didn’t have to test. I probably would’ve still played the game. I was pretty fortunate. I never had any symptoms and I felt great the whole time. It was tough having to sit out those (few) games, but it’s good to be back.”

The Jets managed to beat the Sabres 3-2 in a shootout, their third straight victory to offer a glimmer of playoff hope. But after building a quick 2-0 lead the following night in Toronto, Winnipeg fell apart and lost 7-3 to close out the brief road trip.

They followed that up with a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Kings on Saturday night, a game in which they certainly could have used the services of Connor and Schmidt.

“You would think you’d want to get two out of three,” said Schmidt. “We know what’s at stake. It’s hard. For us personally, when you’re gone for five days, it’s amazing how long it feels. It’s like you’ve been gone an eternity.”

The pair was able to drive back across the Canadian border once a five-day quarantine period ended because each was asymptomatic. Schmidt described himself as a “Harry Potter audible guy,” while Connor said he injected some music into the ride through North Dakota back into Manitoba. Schmidt also tapped in to a well-known motivational speaker, which he and his teammates could likely use the services of these days.

“I was fortunate to hear Tony Robbins when I was in Washington. I’m not sure if Barry Trotz knew him from somewhere. He came and talked to the team. He had something new coming out, so I was listening to some of the stuff he had going on,” said the former Capitals blue-liner.

Connor will return to the team’s top offensive line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler. Schmidt was on the third-pairing at practice Monday, with Ville Heinola and Logan Stanley rotating as his partner.

The Jets will be without forward Jansen Harkins, who suffered an upper-body injury against the Kings after taking an elbow to the head. He’s still being assessed for a potential concussion and will not play against the Red Wings.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg