GAME DAY: Jets begin 10-game home stand tonight vs. Lightning
7;00pm CT - TV: TSN3; Radio: TSN 1290
Trouba's injury is the second to hit the Jets blue line in under a week, as Dmitry Kulikov left last Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks. But in Byfuglien's mind, the current injury situation is a far cry from the 2014-2015 season, when the Jets blue line was bit by the injury bug numerous times.
"At that time, I think we had all six of them down. We just have to stick together as a team, and we'll be all right," said Byfuglien, adding the nine-point gap separating first from sixth in the Central Division all the motivation the team needs.
"We have a job to do. You have to come to the rink every day willing to work, knowing teams are trying to get in or stay on top. The pace and the grind picks up a bit harder, but for the most part it's the game of hockey and you have to come out ready to work."
Maurice also reiterated that Michael Hutchinson will start in goal, despite the fact the goaltender will be arriving in Winnipeg today after playing in the AHL All-Star game last night in Utica, NY.
"He's had about 11,000 miles the last month. He played four (games) in six (nights) going into the break. Went from off, to here, to Calgary, to here, to the west coast, to the east coast, back to here. He gets the day off," said Maurice, adding Hutchinson's travel to Winnipeg isn't a concern.
"We expect him to have lunch here with the group."
The Jets didn't do full line rushes at this morning's skate, but outside of confirming Adam Lowry's return from an eight-game absence due to an upper-body injury, Maurice said the health of one forward leaves one question mark up front.
The lines at yesterday's practice looked like this:
Laine - Wheeler - Roslovic
Perreault - Little - Ehlers
Copp - Lowry - Armia
Tanev - Hendricks - Connor/Dano
Morrissey - Myers
Enstrom - Byfuglien
Chiarot - Poolman
As for the Lightning, they come into Winnipeg fresh off hosting the NHL's All-Star Weekend.
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos - who are first and fourth in points on the NHL list with 64 and 58 respectively - are just two of the four Lightning players who took part in the festivities. Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy (who's 29 wins is tops among goaltenders in the NHL, three clear of Hellebuyck) were the other two suiting up for the Atlantic Division.
But Lightning coach Jon Cooper will follow the same strategy as Maurice, and will give Vasilevskiy the night off, with Louis Domingue getting the start.
Like the Jets, injuries haven't been friendly to Tampa Bay. Ondrej Palat remains out with lower-body injury, but Cooper said Victor Hedman, out since Jan. 11 (lower body), is a game time decision tonight.
But that hasn't slowed down the Lightning, who have won three straight coming into tonight's tilt.
"We have a tough game tonight. The best team in the league is in our home building. It's going to be a tough game. It's a good measuring stick for us and we're excited about the opportunity," said Blake Wheeler.
"We've come back from a couple of breaks already. We know what to do. Just go out there, and not over complicate things early, get our skating legs underneath us, and get as many pucks as we can going toward their net. If we do that, we know we're playing on the right end of the ice."
- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Tonight is #HockeyTalks Night at Bell MTS Place. #HockeyTalks is a national public awareness campaign for Canadian NHL teams designed to encourage conversations about mental health. To learn more about the initiative and how the Jets are involved, including our very own Project 11, click here.
JETS GAME NOTES
Tonight's Game
The Winnipeg Jets return from the all-star break to begin a season-high 10-game homestand tonight against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning...The Jets lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday in their final game before the all-star break...Winnipeg continues the homestand on Thursday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Jets vs. Lightning Notes
- The Jets split their two games with the Lightning last season, winning 6-4 in Tampa Bay and falling 4-1 at home.
- The last time the Jets beat the Lightning in Winnipeg was in a 4-3 shootout win on April 16, 2013 and have lost four straight at home.
- Since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg, the Jets are 9-5-5 against the Lightning, including seven overtime games with two ending in shootouts.
- The Jets have allowed four goals or more in seven of their last eight games against the Lightning (30 GA).
Home, Sweet Home
The Jets hold down one of the best home records in the NHL this season at 17-3-1, good for an .833 points percentage...The Jets have won 13 of their last 14 home games, outscoring their opposition 57-26 in the process...Winnipeg has scored four goals or more in 11 of the 13 wins...The Jets and Golden Knights are tied for the fewest home losses in regulation this season...In 2017-18, the Jets have already tied franchise records for consecutive wins on home ice (seven: Nov. 14 - Dec. 11) and consecutive games with a point on home ice (11: Oct. 20 - Dec. 14)... The Jets have the best power play in the NHL at home at 32.0% (24-for-75).
Test Against the Best
This 10-game homestand starts with two of the NHL's other three division leaders, as Tampa Bay leads the Atlantic Division and Vegas leads the Pacific Division...The Central Division-leading Jets also play the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals on Feb. 13 as part of the homestand...The Jets are 1-1-1 against those three teams this season.
Facing the East
Jets are 8-5-5 against the Eastern Conference this season, including a 3-3-3 record versus the Atlantic Division...Winnipeg has won three straight games against Eastern Conference teams, but haven't faced a team from the East since a 7-4 win in Buffalo on Jan. 9/18...Blake Wheeler leads the Jets with 23 points (8G, 15A) in 18 games against the Eastern Conference...Dustin Byfuglien has 12 (2G, 10A) of his 19 points this season in 15 games against the East.
Narrow Margins
The Jets are 10-1-8 in one-goal games this season, good for a .737 points percentage...Winnipeg's last four games have been decided by one goal, during which the Jets are 3-0-1...The Jets are one of three teams to lose only once in regulation by one goal this season, which occurred Jan. 12 at CHI 2-1 L...Since relocating to Winnipeg in 2011, the Jets are 113-58-59 in one-goal games.
Home Body
Blake Wheeler is tied for sixth in NHL home scoring with 33 points (9G, 24A) in 21 games...His 24 assists are also tied for third in the league...Wheeler has a point in six consecutive games (2G, 6A) at Bell MTS Place, including one assist in each of the six games...It's the second time this season he's had a six-game home scoring streak and third time he's had a home point streak reach five games...He has a point in 17 of his 21 games at home this season...Aside from the injured Mark Scheifele, who has 24 points (10G, 14A) in 17 games at home, Winnipeg's next top point getter at home is Patrik Laine with 18 points (9G, 9A) in 21 games.
Pair of Stars
Captain Blake Wheeler and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck suited up for the Central Division at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa Bay on Sunday...While the Central Division lost their only game of the 3-on-3 tournament, Blake Wheeler had an assist and was credited with a rare blocked shot in an all-star game...Hellebuyck stopped five of eight shots in his half of the game.
First Tally
Jack Roslovic tallied his first NHL goal in Thursday's loss in Anaheim...He became the 11th player drafted by the Jets organization since 2011 to score his first NHL goal wearing a Jets uniform...With Roslovic scoring, the Jets initial seven first-round picks from 2011 have scored in the NHL.
On the Draw
Bryan Little is tied for eighth in the NHL in faceoff percentage, winning 56.3% of his faceoffs this season...If he maintains this pace, he will best his career-high 55.6% faceoff winning percentage from last season...Little has won more than 50% of his faceoffs in eight of his last nine games.
Jets vs. Lightning All-Time Records
Overall: 37-30-20
At Bell MTS Place: 4-3-2
At Amalie Arena: 15-19-10
