Note: The Jets are back in action following a day off yesterday. The team will face the Detroit Red Wings this evening at the MTS Centre in game one of two this week at home. The big question remains the health status of Mark Scheifele and perhaps we will get an update on Nic Petan as well. Puck drops at 7 pm and make sure you keep it locked to illegalcurve.com for pre and post game news and on social media including via Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.
Note II: The Moose have the day off today. They will be back on the ice tomorrow afternoon and will also be hitting Siloam Mission for a holiday visit.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: The centre of attention. (Paywall). Not much of a surprise that the captain/leader of this team stepped into the role that he was asked to assume by his coach.
Winnipeg Sun: Little making big impact. Since he went down with an injury in the 1st period of the first game we have been collectively talking about how significant his loss was for this Jets squad. Now having him back and making an impact you can tangibly see what he does for the club.
Winnipeg Sun: Five keys to Jets vs. Wings. Ken’s keys include: 1) Back to the home cooking. 2) Taming the beasts of the East. 3) Turning the corner? 4) Beware of Larkin. 5) Watch the second wave. Ken’s big matchup is Blake Wheeler vs Henrik Zetterberg.
MLive.com: 5 Things to Watch. Read these from Wings beat writer Ansar Khan including 1) Jets, Laine a challenge. 2) Improved Jackets launch key homestand. 3) Reinforcements arriving later this week? 4) Protecting leads troublesome. 5) Special teams trending differently.
Sportsnet: Rookie of the Week – Patrik Laine. (Video). The rookie leader in goals and points for the week, to go along with a Mario Lemieux comparison, gives Patrik Laine the ROTW title.
Illegal Curve: Injury Update on Mark Scheifele. While the Jets had the day off yesterday coach Maurice was on with the Hockey Central Panel at Noon and they asked him about Scheifele’s status. You can hear that full audio below or read the transcribed part about 55 in this link.
Illegal Curve: Having Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler as an option at centre. You get the sense that the Jets bench boss doesn’t mind having a 6’5″ centre like Wheeler as an option.
Jets audio:
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler & Lawless. Scott Cullen joins the guys to discuss the prolific scoring by Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine, and explains why the Jets have a higher ceiling than how they’ve been playing this season.
Sportsnet: Hockey Central at Noon. Paul Maurice spoke for almost 13 minutes on Patrik Laine’s ability to score from pretty much anywhere has the veterans on his club doing what they can to feed the Finnish rookie the puck, & that the patience the forward has recently added to his game makes him more dangerous.
Jets prospect news:
Illegal Curve: Jack Roslovic & Eric Foley named to 2017 U.S. Natl Jr Team Preliminary Roster. A nice honour (or should that be honor since we are discussing U.S players) for these two. I look at how they are doing and how much time they would miss with their current clubs if they go from training camp until the Finals.
Greater Tulsa Reporter: Oilers goalie helps Tulsa to great start. The value in playing time is huge and being able to be the number one guy is a pretty solid option for the Jets prospect. In an ideal world he would be with the Moose as a backup to Eric Comrie it won’t be long before that becomes the duo in the AHL or perhaps at a higher level eventually.
