Winnipeg Jets Practice Report

Against the backdrop of 1000s of screaming kids the Jets hit the ice for a second consecutive day of practice at Bell MTS Place as they get ready to face division rival St. Louis here on Friday night.

Practice Notes:

Sounds like a few players taking off today’s skate.  From Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press we learn that Tyler Myers and Brendan Lemieux aren’t at skate and Brian Munz of TSN 1290 Winnipeg indicated Michael Hutchinson is also not on the ice this morning and the line rushes listed below come via Brian.

Line rushes:

Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler
Perreault-Little-Ehlers
Connor-Copp-Armia
Dano-Petan-Roslovic

Morrissey-Poolman (Myers)
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Chiarot-Kulikov

Hellebuyck

Health Update:

Coach Maurice indicated that Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson “took a puck in the morning skate two days ago.  Was fine and then started feeling unusual after yesterday’s skate.  So he got tested and he has a concussion”.  The Jets will recall Eric Comrie who was on the road with the Moose.  Brendan Lemieux wasn’t skating today and the Jets bench boss said “Got a little banged up in the game.  Skated yesterday, was sore today.  He’ll be back, we think, on the ice tomorrow.  I don’t have him in the lineup for tomorrow’s game.”  Tyler Myers who didn’t skate is fine according to Maurice.  The coach indicated that concussed goalie Steve Mason is slowly making progress “He’ll skate one day and we’ll keep him off the next.  It’s just a real longer curve on second concussion in a short period of time.”

The Jets announced that they have placed Matt Hendricks and Brandon Tanev on IR retroactive to February 3rd.

Recall:

The Jets have recalled Eric Comrie from the Moose.

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Mark Scheifele

Ben Chiarot

Jack Roslovic

Coach Maurice:  On how good the Little line has been playing.  Update on Hutchinson/Lemieux/Myers.  Thoughts on the Blues.  On goalies being concussed in practice.  Does this change his plan for Connor Hellebuyck?  Update on Steve Mason.  On Wheeler as centre/winger.  Does backup goalie position put goalies on trade radar?  On Jack Roslovic taking a “lesser role” with Scheifele back.  The role of Wheeler allowing Jets to survive the absence of Scheifele.  On Andrew Copp’s growth as a player.  Maturation of Copp.  The battle testing of Jets young players.  Importance of getting Scheifele back to Wheeler.  Do they have to guard against an “exhale” with Scheifele back?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.