Note: The Jets got back to routine although it was Dave Lowry‘s first day holding practice as the interim head coach of Winnipeg after Paul Maurice’s surprise resignation on Friday morning. The news wasn’t great from an injury standpoint after not only losing the game to the Capitals on Friday but also losing David Gustafsson (day-to-day) and Evgeny Svechnikov (longer than day-to-day). As you’ll see with note below the Moose are dealing with a covid situation so it will be interesting to see how the Jets navigate this given they have just 10 forwards on the roster and seven defenceman. Without a morning skate we shall have to wait and see although I have some thoughts on who could merit a recall from Manitoba (Update: The Jets recalled CJ Suess and Kristian Reichel). Puck drop is at 2 PM. Join us after the game for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show.
Note II: The Moose game that was scheduled to be played last night in Iowa which would have concluded three games in three days for Manitoba was postponed (in fact all games are until December 22nd were) with the team instead returning home due to covid protocols and concerns related to travel. Their schedule for the next little bit is still to be determined.
Note III: A few other Jets tidbits is that today’s game against the Blues will be the last where they are allowed to have full capacity as they will be moving to 50% due to the new health orders. The team sent out an email to season ticket holders on Friday although they aren’t yet releasing details as to how it will be ascertained who gets to attend games. Also after today’s game the team was to head out on the road this week to play in Nashville on Tuesday and Dallas on Wednesday but due to a covid situation impacting the Predators that game has been postponed.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Jets set for Central Division test vs. Blues. Interim head coach Dave Lowry will be taking on former Flames teammate Craig Berube when their two teams clash this afternoon in a big test for the home side given that the Blues have taken a beating but just continue to chug along this season.
Winnipeg Sun: Snapshots. In his short snappers column Scott wrote about Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck speaking candidly about COVID protocol and Paul Stastny wished for more time with Maurice.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets’ Maurice kept it classy, left admirably. As I said on our show the other night, regardless of how you felt about his coaching, Paul Maurice always represented this city in a positive manner and was a true ambassador for Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Free Press: ‘This should be our finest hour’. (Paywall). I saw Hellebuyck and Churchill in the same headline and figured the Jets netminder was heading north. Jokes aside the top goalie for Winnipeg always keeps his thoughts positive.
Photo Credit: Alexander James (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Free Press: Lowry impressed with effort in loss to Caps. (Paywall). While they are one of the top teams in the east the Caps were missing some big pieces of their roster so that does factor in but the Jets didn’t play a terrible game. However they didn’t have the necessary push in the final frame and that was a problem.
Sportsnet: Dave Lowry looking to make most of long-awaited opportunity with Jets. Ken delves into the next big topic around Winnipeg now as the reality of Paul Maurice’s resignation becomes yesterday’s news (literally).
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues arrive in Canada amid COVID uncertainty. Learn about the Jets opponent from a writer that covers them.
Times Columnist: From Royals to Jets, direct approach has served Lowry well. When the NHLer turned to coaching this was one of his first stops so read about him from the folks who covered him in his early years as a coach.
Jets video:
Sportsnet: What direction will Jets’ interim head coach Dave Lowry take the team? Sean Reynolds was joined by Ken Wiebe to discuss what direction Jets’ interim head coach Dave Lowry is taking the team, why it won’t be easy for him to implement new systems, and how important it is for players to focus on the day-to-day right now.
Sportsnet: To The Point. The Hockey Central panel discuss the Ottawa Senators play and Paul Maurice resigning as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets.
Jets audio:
Illegal Curve Hockey Show: Podcast. Topics covered on yesterday’s show included Paul Maurice’s resignation as head coach of the Jets, Dave Lowry taking over as interim head coach of Winnipeg, What sorts of changes might be implemented, Manitoba road trip cut short, Moose players that could have an impact in NHL. We were joined by Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun and Chris Johnston of the Toronto Star/TSN.
