Note: It was another busy day for the Jets on Wednesday as they practiced ahead of their final game of this two-game homestand. There was some bad news on the injury front as 2017 2nd rounder Dylan Samberg is out “week-to-week” with an upper-body injury. With this news it would appear to mean that 2017 3rd rounder Johnny Kovacevic will make his NHL debut tonight against the Canucks (potentially paired up with 2019 1st rounder Ville Heinola who he has played eight games with on a D pairing for the Moose this season).It would be a well deserved moment for the third year pro who is a solid skater, big boy (6’5) and can score (tied for AHL goals lead among defencemen). While the lineup appears to be set for tonight be sure to check back for the pre-game report for all the latest news and interviews. Puck drop is at 7 PM and following the final buzzer join the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show.
Note II: There was some Jets prospect news on Wednesday as 2019 5th rounder Logan Neaton‘s season at Miami (Ohio) is done. He last played January 7th and will miss the rest of the college season with a lower-body injury.
Note III: The Moose have another few days of practice scheduled before they take on the Canucks farm club this weekend for the very first time.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: From prospect to player: Jets’ Perfetti up to stay. It would appear the 2020 1st rounder is here to stay as his play and injuries have opened up a spot for him.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets not about to pack season in, but they need plenty of work to stay in playoff fight. We are about to witness a major character test for this club as they know that this season could easily slip away if they allow this skid to continue.
Photo Credit: Alexander James (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Free Press: Playoff hopes hinge on struggling club turning things around as soon as possible. (Paywall). While the season for the Jets still somehow still hasn’t reached the midway point so it still feels like there is plenty of runway left in 2021-22 the reality is if you keep having middling results you will soon find yourself stuck on the tarmac without any runway left.
Sportsnet: Notice has been served: Cole Perfetti has arrived for the Winnipeg Jets. It has been clear to those who have followed his progression in the AHL that his high level of hockey intelligence would allow him to be able to adjust to the game at the NHL level as we saw him do last season. While his speed may be his limiting factor his hockey brain more than makes up for it as we have seen throughout his first nine games.
Jets video:
Sportsnet: Schmidt glanced at standings and realized it’s time for Jets to string together wins. Jets defenceman Nate Schmidt says he likes to check out the standings in 10 to 15 game intervals, and when he looked after Tuesday’s loss, he realized that they are running out of time to string together wins and get back in this race.
TSN: Schmidt knows Jets need to start making up ground in crowded playoff race. Jets defenceman Nate Schmidt admitted that he looked at the standings recently and, with Winnipeg outside of the playoff picture, he knows they need to start rattling off some wins. As Schmidt says, it’s only going to get tougher to make up ground as the season goes on with so many teams in the race.
Moose news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Moose rewriting playbook for success. (Paywall). This team truly does define that word because as Mike writes the revolving door of players come in and just continue to find success. The weekend sweep of the top ranked Wolves with a significantly handicapped lineup was a testament to that concept.
