GAMEDAY: Oilers at Jets

WINNIPEG – It will not just be a normal preseason game at Canada Life Centre this evening when the Winnipeg Jets host the Edmonton Oilers at 7 CT (TSN3, 680 CJOB, Power 97).

Jonathan Toews will be making his Jets debut with Gustav Nyquist and Cole Perfetti on his wings.

“For me, we’ve had some good communication about (how) this is all a step in the process. It might not go great for him tonight. It might go awesome for him. It’s all about getting ready for that opener against Dallas,” said head coach Scott Arniel.

“After all of these practices and the intrasquad game, now he gets to go out and do it in live situations. I just need him to continue to build on our systems and how we play. Do what he does best.”

It’s only been six days since camp opened but the 37-year-old has done a good job picking up on what the Jets do. That doesn’t come as a surprise for Arniel, especially when it comes to Toews’ hockey IQ.

“That’s usually what they’re good at. You don’t have to tell them, and you don’t have to repeat yourself too often. They get it. They understand it. Maybe they’ve played it in the past,” said Arniel.

“They read situations in games. It isn’t always drawn up maybe as you see on video or on the blackboard. There is some decision-making that has to happen and those guys, with that IQ are usually the ones who respond in the right way.”

The Jets played on Sunday losing 3-2 to the Wild, so Arniel will be expecting a lot of things heading into game two of the preseason for both those who played on the weekend and for the those who are playing game one.

“Some guys are back in, for some others it’s the first game for them to get the cobwebs off, kind of get themselves to lose the summer hockey (habits) and get into the regular season stuff. There are some things that we’ve worked on,” said Arniel.

“Building on systems and structure, kind of put that in place. Obviously, it’s getting out there and playing. Especially when I talk about our veteran guys, get the games underneath them, get feeling good about themselves and that’s what they have to do.”

Brad Lambert will be hoping to build off the Sunday game against the Wild as he hopes to stick around. The 2022 first round pick will be on the right wing with Parker Ford and Colby Barlow.

“Definitely feel good to get back into the rhythm of things. Obviously the first game was obviously different than your summer scrimmages,” said Lambert.

“Just kind of getting back into it. I feel like we got better as the game went along.”

Jacob Julien will begin his pro hockey career this season after winning the Memorial Cup with London in the spring. Julien played one preseason game last September and will centre the Jets fourth line tonight.

“Just play my game, just showing what I can do out here. Not going to change anything,” said Julien.

We'll learn the systems. We'll get used to those and just try to do my best and do what I do best.”