Practice Notebook - Nov. 9, 2022

WINNIPEG -After moving into top spot in the Central Division with Tuesday's 5-1 win over Dallas, Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness felt like experimenting on Wednesday.
He broke up the line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Mason Appleton - which combined for eight points in that victory - in favour of putting Pierre-Luc Dubois in the middle between Scheifele and Connor.
It's nothing permanent, though. It was more to make use of the extra practice time the Jets have had during this particular home stand. Bowness said Friday's practice ahead of this weekend's road trip will see the lines revert back to how they were against the Stars.
"Sometimes during the course of a game, you have to make some adjustments, you have to throw out a different look that the other team isn't expecting," said Bowness. "I've talked to Dubie, KC, and Mark. I've asked Mark if he's ever played right wing, and he did in the World Championships. Sometimes you have to throw a different look on the road. I want to stay a step ahead of it."

The adjustment meant that Blake Wheeler was between Appleton and Cole Perfetti, while all the other lines remained as they were on Tuesday.
By doing this, it also meant the 30-minute practice kept everyone from getting too comfortable.
"Now they have to think a bit more, a little differently, and that's a challenge," said Bowness. "I want to say we've had the practice and it looked like that."

BIG CROWD ENERGY
Whether it was Filipino Heritage Night, or the fact the Jets had just dominated a division rival, the crowd at Canada Life Centre seemed to have a little extra juice on Tuesday.
It was noticeable in the first period when the Jets outshot Dallas 18-8.
It was even more apparent when the Jets scored three times in 2:45 to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.
And it was downright awesome as the players saluted the building when time expired.
"When the fans are in it, we notice. We notice it a lot," said Pierre-Luc Dubois, who had one of those momentum turning goals in the second. "After the game, to hear them, it was great."
The Jets (8-3-1) have won five of their six games on home ice this season, outscoring their opponents 21-8.
"If we can turn our rink here into a fortress or a place no one wants to come play in, it's good for us," said Dubois. "The fans will see good hockey, good games. Last night was fun for everybody out there."

NOT SATISFIED
A quick look at the league stats shows that the Jets have allowed the fewest goals in the National Hockey League (28).
Alternate captain Adam Lowry acknowledges that it's a little early to read too much into that stat, but it does show progress since the team returned from a three-game road trip they were less than happy with.
"We can thank (Connor Hellebuyck) and (David Rittich) for keeping those numbers down, especially that last road trip," said Lowry. "We were giving up close to 50 shots in a couple games it's not a recipe for success. Coming back off the road and looking at the areas we had to clean up, we've done a good job of doing that."
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Jets allowed 44 high-danger chances at five-on-five during the three-game trip through Los Angeles, Arizona, and Vegas - the most in the NHL.
They earned five of six possible points, but were much more satisfied with their recent home stand - where they got all six points - and allowed 27 high-danger chances, the eighth fewest among teams that played at least three games in that span.
"We've protected the middle of the ice a lot better, eliminated the scoring chances, and giving Bucky and Ritter a little less work to do," said Dubois. "Bucky and Ritter have been great this year. Coming back, protecting the middle of the ice, it's all the cliches but we've done a really good job at it."
As the team heads out on the road to take on the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken on the weekend, they want to bring all the positives of the home stand with them, especially the work on the defensive side of the puck.
"Hopefully we continue to be one of the top defensive teams. The last couple of games at home, it's certainly looked a lot better," said Lowry. "The other team isn't getting a lot of chances that previously we gave up quite a few. It's early, but we're going to look to continue this."