Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  The Jets held a practice in Winnipeg on Wednesday as they got ready for tonight’s game in Detroit to wrap up the home and home series with the Red Wings.  Winnipeg will put their 10-5-1 road record up against the Wings 4-11-1 record at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit is spiraling down having lost their last 12 games (0-10-2).  Morning skate is scheduled for 10:30 AM CST so check back for the pre-game report to get the latest news and audio.  Puck drop is at 6:30 PM CST.

Note II:  The Moose played last night in Texas as they kicked off their five-game road trip against the red-hot Stars with a 3-1 loss.  Manitoba is scheduled to be back on the ice for practice today at H-E-B Center as they get ready for tomorrow’s re-match with Texas.

Jets news:

NHL.com:  Jets’ revamped defense coming up big.  Interesting perspective from the former NHLer.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets looking for more of the same in rematch with Red Wings.  Ted’s big matchup is Jonathan Bernier vs. Connor Hellebuyck. His five keys to the game include: 1) Rinse, Repeat. 2) Sizzling Scheifele. 3) Winning defence. 4) Desperate Wings. 5) Bad blood.

Winnipeg Sun:  The reverse-Laine: Jets sniper a plus, all-around.  The Jets sniper had some fun at his own expense following practice.

Winnipeg Sun:  Pionk has been turning heads in short time with Jets.  No doubt he has folks talking.  I do however hope we’ve heard Jets bench boss Paul Maurice tell the story about watching Pionk in New York (for the first time) for the last time this season.

Winnipeg Free Press: Laine leaves laser in holster; breakaway beauty all speed, stickhandling. (Paywall).  Watching him is like watching a video game live and in person.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Ice-cold cameo for red-hot Hellebuyck.  (Paywall).  Plenty of fire in that belly.  

Winnipeg Free Press:  Adam Lowry is a powerful, defensively indispensable contributor to Jets’ success.  (Paywall).  And now he has added goals in back-to-back games because in order to be a third line centre you cannot just be good defensively.  

The Athletic Winnipeg:  One-on-one with Blake Wheeler, whose personal transformation is changing the Jets, too. (Paywall).  Murat looks back with the Jets captain at the personal transformation he has undergone within himself and the team has undergone as well.

The Athletic Winnipeg:  How Mark Scheifele has lifted his play to another level, especially with the game on the line.  (Paywall).  Ken writes about the drive of number 55.

Jets video:

Sportsnet: Imagine if the Jets could convince Dustin Byfuglien to come back right now.  Hockey Central dream discussion on how good the Winnipeg Jets could be if they could somehow convince Dustin Byfuglien to re-join the club late in the year for a Stanley Cup run?

TSN: Did Laine have the edge over former teammate Comrie? After his beautiful goal against the Red Wings, Patrik Laine said he had the advantage over his former teammate Eric Comrie in net. Does the shooter or goalie have any type of advantage when they know each other? That’s Hockey weighs in.

Jets 1.0 news:

Winnipeg Free Press: Doug Smail was initially ignored by NHL clubs, but the small winger’s detour to UND paid big dividends. (Paywall).  Taylor caught up with the speedy winger who was here with the Jets 1.0 from 1980-81 to 1990-91.