Following a day off on Wednesday where the only Jets related news was that the team had reduced the training camp roster by six players, the team hit the ice with the playing group downtown at Canada Life while the non-playing group and injured players were at the Hockey For All Centre.
The lineup set to take on the Flames this evening was as follows:
Namestnikov-Perfetti-Niederreiter
Iafallo-Lowry-Appleton
Harkins-Kupari-Ford
Viel-Toninato-Malott
Dillon-Heinola
Chisholm-Capobianco
Stanley-Kniazev
However, Kyle Capobianco left skate early. Jets head coach Rick Bowness would tell us after the skate that he was dealing with a groin issue and that they’d be inserting Tyrel Bauer into the lineup.
In addition to the update on Capobianco he also advised that while the team doesn’t have any concerns with respect to Nikolaj Ehlers, who is dealing with neck spasms, saying they are being cautious with the dynamic winger.
Last of the afternoon health updates was the news that 2023 1st rounder Colby Barlow was over his flu and skating today.
It was rather quick after puck drop that Tyrel Bauer and Adam Klapka renewed acquaintances.
Tyrel Bauer folks. pic.twitter.com/o0WPvDFwen
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) September 28, 2023
And when I say renewed I mean it. These two had a major tilt in the AHL last season.
And if you’re wondering Bauer and Klapka have history. https://t.co/jShkmdahfO
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) September 28, 2023
Of course there was a hockey game to watch. Jansen Harkins finished off a nice play by Parker Ford, the college free agent the Jets signed to a two-year deal last season. He played eight games with Manitoba after his college season with Providence came to a conclusion. Watching him all game he seemed very confident and more tenacious than he was when he made his pro debut with the Moose last season.
With the score tied 1-1 at the end of the 2nd period the big controversy was this hit by Martin Pospisil on Cole Perfetti.
That was a cheap hit on Cole Perfetti pic.twitter.com/qsZfY8GFP5
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) September 28, 2023
Perfetti would appear to shake it off and he stayed on the ice after the penalties for the shenanigans got sorted out but he would not be on the ice to start the 3rd period.
Parker Ford again getting noticed as he wires home this shot to make it 2-1 for Winnipeg in the final frame.
Parker Ford (aka Brandon Tanev light) looking more and more comfortable. #NHLJets pic.twitter.com/VMe27yyyYS
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) September 28, 2023
The Flames would tie the game and while OT solved nothing the visitors skated away with a 3-2 shootout win.
Of course a meaningless loss in the pre-season could mean a lot more if it costs the Jets Cole Perfetti. Not surprisingly that was the first question head coach Rick Bowness was asked in his media availability post-game. He began by saying it was a “cheap hit” and then followed that indicating that Perfetti was going to be re-evaluated in the morning.
As per Connor Hrabchak of The Hockey Writers there was further clarity from Jets PR after Rick Bowness spoke indicating that Perfetti was pulled for precautionary reasons and that he is not in concussion protocol.
Tomorrow the Jets will see group 1 skating at 10:30 AM and group 2 skating at 2 PM. It isn’t clearly defined who is making up which group but it seems reasonable to assume that the group that played this evening will be part of the later group.
