Turkey time for Wheeler

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/11/2018 (2481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — Blake Wheeler has plenty to be thankful for these days — including a gift from the NHL schedule-maker.

The Winnipeg Jets will spend U.S. Thanksgiving in Wheeler’s home state of Minnesota, giving him a rare chance to enjoy the holiday with extended family. Players were set to arrive in Minneapolis-St. Paul early today after playing against the Flames in Calgary Wednesday night, then have the rest of the day off before facing off against the Minnesota Wild on Friday afternoon.

“Honestly, the worst day of my year is being on the road on Thanksgiving Day. Playing for a Canadian team, that’s the one thing that’s a bummer, we’re always (away from home) and it’s hard for me to be with my family on that day. So, it means a lot, being able to spend that time with them,” Wheeler said.

No doubt Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, a fellow Minnesotan, feels the same way.

 

● ● ●

 

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That seems to be the approach being taken by Jets head coach Paul Maurice these days when it comes to his lineup.

The same 18 skaters have now played six straight games for the club, which entered play Wednesday night on a 4-0-1 run since returning from the Global Series in Helsinki.

Brendan Lemieux and Sami Niku have been on the outside looking in as healthy scratches. Maurice was asked prior to Wednesday’s game if there’s a chance one, or both, could see action when the Jets play in Minnesota on Friday and in St. Louis on Saturday.

“I like the way we’re playing right now. I want to build that confidence in our group, that would be priority one for me,” Maurice said.

Translation: neither player should be holding their breath waiting for opportunity to come knocking.

 

● ● ●

 

The upcoming back-to-back games mean Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit will likely each play once — although that wouldn’t be the case if Hellebuyck has his way.

The Jets’ No. 1 goalie enjoys being a workhorse, and makes that known to his coaches.

“I can tell you Connor Hellebuyck has already started the lobbying process. Do you want the list? A (3 p.m. start Friday), which he loves afternoon games. Lots of rest. Take a look at his St. Louis numbers. He’s already let me know. This is a wonderful thing,” Maurice joked Wednesday.

“When you look at the progression of him as a goalie, we spend an awful lot of time talking to him about how he’s feeling, what he wants. And, eventually, in a perfect world, we would get to that relationship where I don’t want to say where he’s picking his games, but that’s almost the end result. The problem right now with Connor is he would just pick 82 of them. Or maybe 76. He would like to play every night.”

Maurice said he loves Hellebuyck’s mentality, even if they can’t always grant his wishes.

“That’s a really important growth part for a No. 1 goaltender, understanding that he does have to come out of the net at certain times. He and (goalie coach) Wade Flaherty have a fantastic relationship. I really follow Wade’s lead on a lot of these,” Maurice said. “I will tell you we’ve had to have conversations with Connor explaining why you don’t get to play tonight, because he wants to play every game, which is wonderful.”

 

● ● ●

 

They’re only halfway through a four-game road trip, but Brandon Tanev has already picked up a souvenir.

The Jets winger is sporting a nasty shiner after getting into a spirited scrap Monday night with Vancouver Canucks tough guy Antoine Roussel, right after the Jets had increased their lead to 4-1. It was just the third fight of Tanev’s NHL career.

“I definitely think that’s Roussel looking to get his team going. But, at the end of the day, it’s part of the game and I’ve got to stick up for myself and know if a fight happens, I’m not going to back down from it,” Tanev said.

There was no doubt an interested spectator to the fight sitting on Vancouver’s bench — Tanev’s older brother, Chris, a defenceman.

For the record, Tanev said his black eye feels “fine,” even if it doesn’t really look it right now.

● ● ●

 

Kyle Connor and Tyler Motte were part of a formidable forward line while playing college hockey at the University of Michigan. And the pair shared a funny reunion together on the ice Monday in Vancouver.

With the Jets up 4-1 on the Canucks, Winnipeg went on the power play and Connor lined up directly against Motte on the wing for the faceoff.

“He was kinda joking about taking it easy out here for this one,” Connor said, referring to the Jets’ red-hot special teams unit, which already had a power-play tally from him earlier in the game.

Seconds later, it was Motte who had reason to celebrate, as the Canucks winger blocked a Byfuglien one-timer and went the distance on a short-handed breakaway, scoring his second goal of the season (and 11th of his NHL career in what was his 100th game).

“Sure enough, he blocks a shot and scores. I got a laugh out of that, obviously. Not good to get scored on, but it was good to see him get one,” said Connor, who got the last laugh as the Jets skated to a 6-3 victory, thanks in large part to his four-point night (goal, three assists).

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg