Jets, Sharks both hungry for home ice in playoffs, Myers says

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This article was published 12/03/2019 (2371 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Veteran defenceman Tyler Myers admits the red-hot race for first place in the NHL’s Central Division is helping to motivate the Winnipeg Jets.

“We like to say we take it one game at a time, which I think we do a pretty good job of, but you take a look at the points and adding to our chances for home ice in each series is something to play for,” Myers said following Winnipeg’s morning skate in advance of tonight’s game against the visiting San Jose Sharks (7 p.m., TSN3, TSN 1290).

“We’ll try and add a couple tonight.”

The 40-24-4 Jets currently lead the Central by one point over the Nashville Predators while also holding a five-point cushion on the third-place St. Louis Blues. Winnipeg has two games in hand on the Preds; the Jets and Blues have both played 68 games.

San Jose, meanwhile, is 42-19-8 and atop the Pacific Division with a one-point edge on the second-place Calgary Flames.

Earning home-ice advantage for the post-season comes highly recommended for both clubs.

“I would say it’s nice, especially (with) the success we’ve had in our rink,” added Myers. “We know it’s a tough building to play in for opposing teams but it’s not the be-all, end-all.”

Winnipeg is currently playing without injured defencemen Dustin Byfuglien (lower body) and Josh Morrissey (upper body). Morrissey is expected to be sidelined until April. Byfuglien has taken some preliminary steps on the ice.

“He has (skated) but there’s not enough value to it right now,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “He can’t push real hard on the ice. He’s going heavier in the weight room, those sorts of things. He’s skating around like a coach right now. I’m not a very good skater — I didn’t get better from today, didn’t make me faster. So we’re going to wait until he can push.”

Meanwhile, Maurice had no comment on a Finnish media report that Kristian Vesalainen, one of the organization’s top prospects, will be returning to North America after spending most of the 2018-19 season with Jokerit of the KHL.

Jokerit was recently eliminated from the playoffs and it is believed Vesalainen could finish the season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14