Practice Notebook - Feb. 10, 2023

WINNIPEG, MB - The Jets had another long practice on Friday morning as Rick Bowness and the coaching staff pushed the pace for over an hour at Canada Life Centre.

Saturday is game day - or night - depending on how you see the world. The Jets are the late game, hosting Chicago for a 9:00 p.m. puck drop. Good thing it isn't a school night.
"It makes no sense to me. I get it in some ways, but it makes no sense," said Pierre-Luc Dubois after practice.
"9 o'clock with fans leaving the rink at midnight, it makes no sense."

Players and coaches are creatures of habit. The extra hour before puck drop could throw their usual preparation out of sync. It will also allow Chicago another hour of rest since they will be playing on home ice tonight against Arizona and will travel to Winnipeg afterwards.
"Our skate will be a little but later tomorrow. We'll move it to 11 o'clock (from 10:30 am)," said Bowness.
"I don't think I've ever played a 9 o'clock game in this league, had some 8:30's. Sometimes they start closer to nine then you want. But you make the best of it, your routine has to change, it has to change."

Obviously, rust will be a concern due to the long layoff. The last two days of long skates should be beneficial for the Jets who haven't had a lot of time to practice thanks to their heavy schedule in December and January. Rick Bowness was once again pleased with how the players responded on Friday.
"I liked practice a lot. The guys came ready to work. It was a good practice," said Bowness.
"Again, you don't ordinarily run an hour long practice this time of year. But under the circumstances with the break we had, it was needed."
The lines looked the same as they did on Thursday and keep in mind that Dylan DeMelo and David Gustafsson did not skate with the main group.
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Dubois- Perfetti
Barron-Lowry-Kuhlman
Maenalanen-Stenlund-Appleton
Gagner

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-Samberg
Stanley-Schmidt
Jonsson-Fjallby-Capobianco
AJF SWAPS TO D
With DeMelo not taking part for the second straight practice, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby spent part of practice on defence alongside Kyle Capobianco. Defenceman Brendan Dillon joked that maybe his job was on the line with the solid performance by Jonsson-Fjallby.
"The defensive Kyle Connor," joked Dillon.
"Looks similar, skates similar. I have to watch my back here; he's coming for my spot."
GAMES GETTING MORE INTENSE
While the Jets wait patiently to get back to playing games, the rest of the NHL has got back to work with some real entertaining tilts. The Calgary Flames 5-4 OT loss to the New York Rangers on Monday night that included some huge hits from former Jet Jacob Trouba stands out as one of the best games of the year. It's no secret games are going to get a lot more competitive from here on out.

"I love that stuff personally. I think for our group to, when we get engaged in the physical games, the emotional games, that's when we're playing our best," said Dillon.
"We want to start this last 30 games here off the right way."