Note: The Jets close out this mini two game homestand tonight at 7 pm against the third place (in the Eastern Conference) New York Rangers. The Rangers have been banged up but still have a deadly potent offence. Should be a good one as Winnipeg looks to bounce back from a disappointing 4-3 shootout loss to Detroit on Tuesday.
Note II: The Moose were volunteering at Siloam Mission last night and today will hit the ice for a practice at the MTS IcePlex at 11 AM.
Jets news:
TSN: Laine will end up a superior player to Matthews. After less than 30 NHL games I’m not sure I’m ready to project what one or the other will do by the end of their careers in the year 2030 something. Both franchises got what they needed in the player they selected.
Winnipeg Sun: Five Keys to the game against NYR. Paul’s list includes: 1) Feet to the throat. 2) Feeding off the Finn. 3) Grabbing at Grabner. 4) Some slump-busting. 5) How about 60 minutes? And the big matchup for Paul is Rangers vs. Laine. .
Winnipeg Sun: Jets know who they are, now. With more than 1/3 of the season in the rearview mirror it is fair to say that this team as it is presently comprised is basically who the Jets are going to be for the remainder of the season aside from a tweak or two. Of course fans are still somewhat unsure if that means the team they saw this last weekend and the 1st period against Detroit or the one they saw for periods 2 and 3. Stay tuned to find out.
Winnipeg Free Press: The goalie whisperer. (Paywall). Mike writes about the relationship goalie coach Wade Flaherty has with the tenders under his tutelage.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence
Winnipeg Free Press: Laine’s lights-out shooting wows linemate Little. (Paywall). I don’t think it is just Bryan Little who has been impressed by what this rookie has been able to do in his short time since joining the NHL. On an almost daily basis he does something that is pretty much jaw dropping.
TSN: By the Numbers – Patrik Laine. (Video). SportsCentre takes a closer look at the numbers of Laine’s red-hot start to his rookie season.
Sportsnet: Is Patrik Laine’s 40-goal pace sustainable? The beauty of sport is we won’t know for quite some time but fans in Winnipeg and around the league will enjoy watching the rookie try to hit that lofty figure (and perhaps beyond).
Sportsnet: 30 Thoughts. Only one Jets note and it is speculation that 91 could fit in Montreal. (Thought #3). Of course worth noting that he may be injured after leaving last night’s game after two periods, which would derail this scuttlebutt.
Illegal Curve: Mark Scheifele injury update. This is update number five and we will learn at some point today whether the Jets top centre will be back in the lineup or whether he will remain up in the pressbox.
Illegal Curve: Winnipeg Jets Practice Report. Check out which players hit the ice for the optional skate and hear from Bryan Little, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine and coach Maurice.
Moose news:
Global News: Moose defenceman Peter Stoykewych playing for hometown team. He has had a very nice season so far with Manitoba and hasn’t looked out of place on the top D pair.
Illegal Curve: Moose sign Dan DeSalvo to an AHL deal. It was a signing that I expected last season after he performed so well for Manitoba but finally after putting up solid numbers since being called up from Tulsa 11 games ago he has earned himself an AHL deal.
Fox Sports: Craig Cunningham on the road to recovery after collapsing on ice. Considering how serious it seemed at the time and with a paucity of news this seems like a really nice turn of events. You will recall that the Moose game against Cunningham’s team (Roadrunners) was postponed when the Tuscon captain collapsed as puck was about to drop.
