The Jets have made changes on the blueline with Mario Ferraro paired with Neal Pionk and Haydn Fleury will play his first game of the season, Tyrell Bauer also returns to the lineup and will skate with Fleury.
“I think it's just a matter of the six guys that are playing. Just everybody stepping up and doing what they can do best,” said Fleury.
“Josh is one of the premier defensemen in this league, so there's no other Josh Morrissey coming into the lineup. So I think all the rest of us just have to do what we do best and play our game.”
Another one of Fleury’s responsibilities this evening will be quarterbacking the second power play unit.
“I think just keep it simple. Shoot. Make the right play at the right time is the biggest thing,” said Fleury.
“I think if that lane's there to shoot it, deliver it to the net, and let our forwards get to work down low.”
With Morrissey unavailable, the spotlight could shift to the younger players looking to make an impact. Just four games into his NHL career, rookie centre Viggo Björck is still searching for his first point, but the 18-year-old says the transition to the league is feeling more natural with every shift.
“I mean, I think you're definitely getting like more comfortable,” said Björck.
“First game was obviously a bit nervous, and a lot of new stuff, but I think as the game goes on and you get to play more, you get more comfortable.”
At 18 years and 204 days old, Björck became the seventh-youngest player in franchise history to make his NHL debut. Like many players arriving from Europe,he is adjusting to the different pace and style of play in the NHL.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it's a fast, like a bit of a faster game, a smaller ice and other stuff happening,” said Björck.
“I think that's the (biggest difference). And guys are good in close space. But I think the adjustment is going pretty well.”
Björck remains the second line centre and will have Morgan Barron on his left and Gabe Vilardi on his right much like he did in the third period in Pittsburgh on Monday night.
“Obviously two good players. It’s been a lot of fun watching Viggo continue to grow and get to know him as a guy," said Barron.
"And obviously you’ve seen what Gabe’s done in this league. Two really talented players. Just kind of go out there and do what I can to help them out.”
Clay Stevenson will get the call in net against a high-flying Ducks team that has the likes of Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke.
“They're quick, they're big. So we're gonna have to really do a job in our end of the ice, making sure we cut them off quickly,” said Scott Arniel.
“Don't give them room to allow their defence to get motion and movement. The faster we can close and cut people off, that limits how much they can do on our end.”
Connor will be playing in his 700th NHL game on Friday night against the Ducks, becoming the 10th player in franchise history to hit the milestone. Connor enters Friday’s contest with 328 goals, tied with Ilya Kovalchuk for the third most in franchise history.
