Jets squad prepared for takeoff

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This article was published 03/10/2017 (2901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Copp’s lucky break — or lack of one, in this case — had a painful side effect for Kyle Connor.

Copp will play tonight in the Winnipeg Jets’ 2017-18 NHL season-opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell MTS Place. Game time is 6 p.m. (Sportsnet, TSN 1290)

The 23-year-old foward who hails from Ann Arbor, Mich., was sidelined for a couple of days with an ailing knee after blocking a cannon off the stick of veteran Flames defenceman Mark Giordano on Saturday night in Calgary.

The pain was so intense, Copp couldn’t bear weight on the leg and did his best crab impersonation to crawl off the ice at the Saddledome.

But he declared himself fit for battle Tuesday morning following a 70-minute practice at the downtown rink. He took several line rushes with centre Adam Lowry and right-winger Joel Armia and also worked with the penalty-killing unit.

The club’s medical staff and head coach Paul Maurice clearly agreed, giving him the green light to join the battle against Auston Matthews and the Leafs.

By mid-afternoon, the Jets announced Connor had been dispatched to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

“I took a couple of days off just to rest it and the swelling’s gone down a lot, and just feel comfortable, obviously, out there in practice and should be ready to go for the game,” Copp said.

“I was nervous that something wasn’t right. I’m just thankful that everything is structurally sound.”

Winnipeg needed to trim only one body from its roster prior to a league-imposed 4 p.m. CT deadline on Tuesday.

The Jets are down to 23 players, although just 20 can dress tonight. Rookie blue-liner Tucker Poolman, who left college to sign with the Jets in the spring, cracked the roster, although he and Ben Chiarot will watch from the press box. One forward, likely either Marko Dano or Brandon Tanev, will need to be scratched as well.

Poolman had off-season surgery on both shoulders, but showed no ill effects during training camp and his pro readiness — heady, physical play in his own end and quick puck movement — was apparent during during his pre-season tests. 

The East Grand Forks, Minn., product said he was pleased with his adjustment to the quick pace.

“I thought I proved a lot to myself, I think,” Poolman said. “It’s a big transition from college to pro, so overall I was happy with things. It doesn’t mean I’m going to stop now. You gotta keep working every day.

“Initially, that rookie game, just hopping into it and a couple of practices, it was fast for me. I don’t know if I was still out of shape or just the whole summer of not playing hockey, but after that initial surge, the game has slowed down for me.” 

Connor, meanwhile, earned a spot with the Jets out of training camp last season, but was demoted to the Moose in December and went on to score 25 goals on the farm. After an unspectacular camp with the big club, he’ll continue his progression with the AHL team, likely rejoining centre Jack Roslovic on the farm club’s top line.

The defensive pairings against Toronto will be Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom, Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey, and Dmitry Kulikov and Tyler Myers.

Up front, the projected lines include Mark Scheifele centring right-winger Blake Wheeler and left-winger Mathieu Perreault, centre Bryan Little joined by right-winger Patrik Laine and left-winger Nikolaj Ehlers, the Lowry line and Shawn Matthias between right-winger Nic Petan and either Tanev or Dano.

Fourth-line grinder Matt Hendricks (lower body) was placed on the club’s injured reserve list.

Steve Mason is expected to get the start in net for Winnipeg, with Connor Hellebuyck backing him up.

Copp said the blistering shot hit a small area of his knee that wasn’t protected. 

“I think it missed the pad. That’s why I was in so much pain,” he said. “I thought the whistle would get blown down since the puck went outside the zone, but the rule is we have to get possession. So it was a five-on-two coming back with five of their best players.

“I was trying to get to my feet at some point to get my stick on a pass, but it was a pretty helpless feeling. I’m glad it happened in the pre-season.”

Blocking shots, he said, is definitely a hazard of the workplace on the PK.

“It’s part of the job. Paul asked if I’ll be able to block a shot (tonight) and I said, ‘Yeah.’ Hopefully, it doesn’t hit me in the same spot.” 

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca 

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell