Mason in Jets’ net tonight in Los Angeles

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This article was published 22/11/2017 (2850 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOS ANGELES — Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice is leaving the blender in the cupboard and going with the same forward lines and defensive pairings tonight he used two nights ago in Nashville.

Despite a 5-3 defeat to the Predators, Maurice will ice the identical lineup against the Kings (12-7-2) at Staples Center — except for the man tending the net. Game time is 9:30 p.m.(TSN 3, TSN 1290).

Steve Mason makes his first start since his solid performance in a 4-1 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 11 — five games ago.

Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t awful in Music City but wasn’t nearly as sharp as he’s been, allowing five goals on 29 shots for Winnipeg (12-5-3).

Mason is 1-3-1 in five starts, with a 3.76 goals-against average and .892 save percentage — numbers weakened because of Winnipeg’s first two lopsided defeats to Toronto and Calgary to start the 2017-18 season.

He was sound in a 2-1 overtime loss to Columbus on Oct. 27, stopping 25 drives by the Blue Jackets, and blocked 29 of 30 in Phoenix.

“We’ve liked the way he’s trended. He deserved to get back in after his last game,” said Maurice, who also noted the NHL club is deep into a hectic portion of the schedule. “Volume of games, we’ve got four in six on the road, but they’re wrapped in home (games) and heavy, heavy travel.”

The Jets play the Anaheim Ducks Friday afternoon and then close out the four-game swing Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks.

Winnipeg returns home to play the Minnesota Wild Monday night and then gets back on a plane bound for Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday.

“Having two fresh goalies for the next two or three weeks is going to be really important,” Maurice said.

Winnipeg holds down second spot in the Central Division, six points back of the red-hot St. Louis Blues (16-5-1), the only idle team tonight with 15 games on the NHL slate. The Jets are a point up on Nashville (12-6-2).

Left-winger Mathieu Perreault is sizzling offensively on Winnipeg’s fourth line with centre Matt Hendricks and Joel Armia, firing four goals in three games since returning from a foot injury.

Conversely, Nikolaj Ehlers has gone seven games without a goal playing with centre Bryan Little and right-winger Patrik Laine. Little has just a pair of goals in 20 games.

Little, who admitted it’s been an adjustment playing between two guys with offensive flair who do their best work busting in and out of their own lanes, said the trio has done a lot of talking about how it can be more productive.

“For us, it’s doing the little things right. The big thing is communication on the ice, working together on the forecheck, creating turnovers,” he said. “We’ve got to take some lessons from these (other lines). (Matt) Hendricks’ line, (Adam) Lowry’s line, those guys work like crazy to get the puck back and they get chances from that. We need to work together as three to get the puck back.”

Tonight’s contest will be a special one for Lowry, whose father, Dave, is an assistant coach with the Kings.

Adam, who had dinner with his dad and mom, Elaine, Tuesday night, said there wasn’t much chatter around the table about the special matchup.

“We didn’t really talk too much about the game,” he said. “I think we’ll both just enjoy battling against each other tonight and, hopefully, we get this one.”

Dave, who played more than 1,000 NHL games and was a head coach in the Western Hockey League for six seasons, joined L.A. coach John Stevens’ staff at the end of May.

The father-son duo has knocked heads once before. Back in 2012-13, Adam was in his final season with the Swift Current Broncos, while Dave was behind the bench with the Victoria Cougars.

The Cougars eked out a 2-1 triumph that night, although Adam scored the lone goal for Swift Current.

“Obviously, I’d like to come out on the right side this time,” Adam said. “It’s just a unique opportunity. We’re happy to see him back in the NHL. He’s worked a long time and worked hard to get back here. I’m very happy for him and the Kings are off to a great start.”

Dave was an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames for three seasons (2009-12).

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell