Jets must roar like lions in March

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This article was published 28/02/2022 (1303 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’re coming off a much-needed victory to end a disappointing road trip. A four-game homestand begins tonight. Injured forward Andrew Copp is on his way back into the lineup from a concussion. And skilled winger Nikolaj Ehlers, joining his teammates for the first time Monday since suffering a serious knee injury six weeks ago, was flying around the ice at Canada Life Centre.

No, you don’t have to look too hard to find some signs of life when it comes to the Winnipeg Jets, who will take any positives they can these days. Still, the task remains tall, with 29 regular-season games left and six points currently separating them from the final Western Conference playoff spot.

March is going to have to come in like a lion, starting with a visit from the Montreal Canadiens as they try to build off Sunday’s 5-3 triumph in Arizona. And the Jets are going to need to keep roaring, and keep rolling, with each passing game to have a fighting chance.

“I feel like there’s an opportunity for us to hopefully string together some wins if we play the right way,” Copp said following his club’s optional practice. “Get on a bit of a roll, get healthy and try to build off a big win. Obviously I think these next eight, 10 game are going to be real important for where we’re at.”

Copp, 27, has missed the past six games after being concussed by Minnesota’s Jordan Greenway on Feb. 16. It’s the fourth documented head trauma Copp has suffered during his career. The last one, in 2018, also happened in a game against the Wild.

“I’m trying to make sure that there are no setbacks and I’m trying to take it slow. Especially with last time coming back a little early, then I had to miss more time. So I’m just trying to make sure,” said Copp, who believes he’s ready to return against the Habs.

“It’s definitely something that I keep in mind, but also I feel like I’ve been able to be surrounded by some really smart people, and get really good treatment on it, and see some of the best in the world to help with any lingering issues. Obviously moving forward as my life moves on to pay close attention to how that affects my day-to-day. I don’t really feel that right now, but it’s something to keep an eye on moving forward.”

Greenway wasn’t penalized on the play, despite the fact Copp didn’t even have the puck at the time.

“I know him a little bit. I played World Championships with him. I have some common friends. He’s a good kid. I don’t think he was trying to hit me dirty or anything. It was just an unfortunate play,” he said.

The Jets will no doubt welcome the return of Copp, who is as versatile as they come and can play any number of roles. He has 12 goals and 16 assists in 47 games this year. Whether he returns to the top six — Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Paul Stastny are one current line, while Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Connor and Evgeny Svechnikov are the other — or back into a familiar third-line checking role with Adam Lowry remains to be seen.

Ehlers, 26, won’t be in the lineup against Montreal, but the fact he was moving so well on Monday is a positive sign. He was hurt after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Washington’s Dmitry Orlov on Jan. 18. (Orlov wasn’t penalized, but later got a two-game suspension). Ehlers went back to Denmark for a stretch to visit family but returned to Winnipeg earlier this month and had been skating every other day on his own. He was in a yellow non-contact jersey and will have to take some bumps before he’s cleared to play.

“It’s great to see Nikky. We know how electric of a player he is,” said defenceman Nathan Beaulieu. “And obviously Copper at both ends of the ice is such an important player for us in all aspects. So it’s a breath of fresh air, for sure.”

Injured defenceman Dylan Samberg and forward C.J. Suess were also full participants Monday, although both were assigned to the Manitoba Moose after practice. Only injured rookie forwards Cole Perfetti and Kristian Reichel are not yet skating, with no timeline for their returns.

Beaulieu and Copp are both pending unrestricted free agents who could be on the move by the March 21 trade deadline if the Jets aren’t legitimately in the playoff picture. Stastny is the other UFA.

‘I’m a Jet. So I’m trying to push to make the playoffs,” Beaulieu said of whether the issue is on his mind these days. “It’s a goal at the beginning of the season every year to try to get in. It’s a bitter taste in your mouth when you don’t get in, you work so hard over the course of a long season, you put so much effort into it. So I’m going out there trying to win hockey games.”

Copp said any trade chatter is “parked for right now,” although there’s no question he could fetch a solid return for the Jets.

“Worried about getting back healthy and worried about coming back in and playing my best hockey for the team. Try to get on a little run here,” he said.

Winnipeg doesn’t need to be reminded that Montreal swept them out of the playoffs last spring, winning four straight games in the second-round. The series was marred by Scheifele’s devastating hit on Jake Evans in the final seconds of Game One which caused the Canadiens forward to be stretchered off the ice and the Jets top centre to be handed a four-game ban.

Naturally, some are wondering if retribution could be coming Scheifele’s way as they face each other for the first time.

“I wouldn’t expect it,” said Copp.

“No. It’s different if it’s five games into a season trying to make a statement. But it doesn’t matter who we’re playing right now, we’re focused on winning hockey games,” added Beaulieu.

Any thought the Jets might take the Canadiens for granted should be wiped out by the fact the visitors have won five straight games under newly-appointed head coach Marty St. Louis. Although they still have the second-worst record in the NHL at 13-33-7, they’re not the pushovers they were a few weeks ago.

“iI don’t think anything should have to get us going. We can look ourselves in the mirror right now. We know where we’re at. Montreal or if we were playing Chicago or New York, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” said Beaulieu. “We need two points. And that’s the bottom line.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg