Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  The Jets practiced at the IcePlex before leaving for New Jersey and while we learned quite a bit there are still some questions ahead of tonight’s game against the Devils who played and lost last night at home to the Washington Capitals.  Be sure to check out the pre-game report which will be updated when the Jets take the ice for AM skate ahead of the 6 pm puck drop.

Note II:  The Moose had their re-match with the Gulls last night in San Diego in a penalty filled affair (combined for over 100 minutes) which saw them lose 2-1 despite an excellent 32 saves by Eric Comrie.  This makes them 1-1 on the six-game road trip.  They left for Bakersfield following the game as they face the Condors this evening at Rabobank Arena.  Puck drop is at 9 pm.

 Note III:  Tune in for three hours of Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose and NHL hockey talk on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show on TSN 1290 Winnipeg starting at 9 am.  Listen here.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun:  Five keys to Winnipeg Jets vs New Jersey Devils.  Ken’s big matchup is Ben Chiarot vs Kyle Palmieri. His five keys are: 1) Top line is rolling. 2) What’s next for Laine? 3) 3rd period leads. 4) Hall on call. 5) Big responsibility for Morrissey and Trouba.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets Snapshots.  Ken’s list includes: 1) Copp ready to roll. 2) Jets defensive woes need cleaning up. 3) Rest, not reset required for Hellebuyck. 4) Roster moves coming. 5) Praise for Morrissey.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Big Buff got back on ice too soon.  (Paywall).  When he was hit by the Jets bench I didn’t think there was any chance he was returning to the game based on his inability to get onto the Winnipeg bench.  Clearly the team followed the procedure that the NHL sets but based on hindsight clearly 33 shouldn’t have gotten back on the ice.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Keeping pucks out of their own net has become a problem for Jets.  (Paywall).  There is no question that the Jets will need to tighten things up because if you’ve watched these games they have been way too loose and that starts with Connor Hellebuyck but it applies to the entire team.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Laine crossed the 100-goal line. Here’s what he and others had to say since goal No. 1 in 2016.  (Paywall).  Lots of good quotes in this one as Mike goes back for 179 games worth of things that were said about the Jets sniper.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Another NHL taste for Schilling.  (Paywall).  Missed this yesterday as Mike looked at the opportunity the veteran player is getting in his first taste of NHL action in three years.

Sportsnet:  Can Patrik Laine score 70 goals in a season?  He is on pace to eclipse this insane number already this season and while he will likely not maintain his torrid November clip the Jets sniper is likely gonna be setting quite the benchmark based in his 2018-19 season.  Andrew always provides an interesting read.  

Jets video:

Illegal Curve: A look back at Patrik Laine’s first 100 NHL goals. If you’ve got nine minutes to kill check out all 100 goals that Patrik Laine has scored. The sound the puck makes when he puts it into the back of the net is unmistakable.

TSN: Byfuglien’s concussion timeline.  After the Winnipeg Jets placed defenceman Dustin Byfuglien on injured reserve Thursday, the TH panel discusses and reviews the timeline of Byfuglien’s concussion starting with the collision he had with Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Jamie Oleksiak and how he may have played through his injury despite showing clear concussion symptoms.

TSN: What changes need to be made in evaluating a player’s health?  Everyone followed the rules when it came to Dustin Byfuglien’s situation after his collision with Jamie Oleksiak, but the initial outcome was clearly incorrect. So how can the league make sure that doesn’t happen again? Mike Johnson shares his thoughts.

Jets audio:

TSN 1290 Winnipeg: The coaching change hasn’t made any immediate impact.  TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie joined The Big Show for his weekly Friday visit, discussing the Jets’ win over the Blackhawks, the Hawks’ defensive structure and also weighed in on the concussion debate around the NHL.