GAMEDAY: Jets at Blackhawks

CHICAGO – To say this date has been circled on the calendar for a while would be an understatement.

Tonight, Jonathan Toews makes his return to United Center.

His resume and accomplishments with the Chicago Blackhawks speaks for itself: three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Selke Trophy, a Mark Messier Leadership Award, all go with his 372 goals and 981 points in 1,067 games in a Blackhawks uniform.

That’s the short version of the resume – which doesn’t even include his international performances or his 15 seasons as captain – and while his focus tonight will be on helping the Winnipeg Jets get two points, one can only imagine the range of emotions the 37-year-old will be feeling.

"It's definitely different. Just being out of the city for a while and coming back - especially with the big Bears game last night - it's always fun to feel the energy when you come back to Chicago," said Toews after the morning skate. "You don't get games like this all the time. At the end of the day you want to go out there and play well and you want to win the game, so you have to keep some level of focus and not get too distracted with all the things going on around you."

Toews had dinner with family and friends on Sunday night and even got to catch up with a few former teammates.

"I saw (Kris Versteeg) in Toronto right after Christmas and he said he was going to be in town with a bunch of the guys - Johnny (Oduya) and (Marian Hossa) - were coming in too," said Toews, who learned during that visit in Toronto that Chicago was honouring those Stanley Cup winning alumni just a couple days before the Jets came to town. "It was pretty cool to see the moment they got, and even talking with Shawsy and Steeger and Brows last night. You know all their kids are growing up now, and I think it’s probably pretty cool for, you know, their young boys and children to maybe see it secondhand when they’re a little bit older, a little bit more mature, to see that their dads are pretty cool, and they had some pretty cool moments here in Chicago."

While he spent time meeting up with teammates of old, Toews' current teammates are eager to experience this night with him.

“For me, I have plenty of memories of watching, and I can only imagine for him, being the captain there for so long, and hoisting the three cups, what he meant to that city and organization,” said Josh Morrissey. “It's going to be special. As a teammate, you're excited for him. And obviously, not just where we're at in standings, but for him as well, we want to go in and obviously find a way to get two points.”

For their part, the Blackhawks (19-22-7) celebrated the alumni of those teams that put together those three Stanley Cups on Saturday. The Bruins, who the Blackhawks beat in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Chicago 5-2.

So while Chicago will be looking to earn their first win in the finale of a four-game home stand, the Jets come into Monday’s tilt with some desperation of their own.

The Jets have points in five straight games, going 4-0-1 in that span, but felt like that record could very well be five consecutive victories. A 3-1 third period lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs evaporated on Saturday night, and Max Domi’s overtime winner left the Jets with just a single point instead of the two they wanted.

“At the end of the day, when you are trying to catch teams above you have to do it every night, there has got to be points,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We had that one and we should have finished it, find a way to finish it, that is part of our jobs, those moments that count in games, whether that is the start of the third period where you give up a rush goal or it is a face-off play, whatever it might be, those are moments that we have to handle a little bit better.”

Winnipeg held a lightly attended optional skate on Sunday as the head into a tough set of back-to-back games this week. After Monday’s game in Chicago, the Jets are right back at it with another divisional tilt against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday at Canada Life Centre.

All their focus is on Chicago though, a team the Jets beat 6-3 in the first of four meetings with the Blackhawks back in October. The schedule is tough, but it is for every team during this push to the Olympics in February. So Winnipeg is keeping their focus on more short-term goals.

Arniel said one of those is to keep trying to climb over the next team in front of them in the standings as they try to climb back toward the wildcard race.

Well that next team just happens to be the one they face-off with on Monday in Chicago, and the Blues could very well be the next target.

“We believe in the way we've been playing, really since the break,” said Arniel. “For the most part, it's given us a chance to win most nights, and it’s what we're going to have to continue to do, but find ways to get that extra point, in this case, with two points.”

The bonus of getting two points in Chicago would be that it ensures a special night for Toews is even that much sweeter. Arniel noted the buzz in the room even ahead of morning skate.

"Guys want to help him and help him have a great night. They’re excited for him," said Arniel. "This is like those 1,000 game things, milestone nights. These are special for everybody. Everybody will enjoy it. I’m sure Jonathan wants to get through it, get going and get playing and help us have a successful game.”

That successful game ends with the Jets claiming two points.

“He's a legend there you win three cups and captain three Stanley Cup teams, and play the way he has,” said Morrissey. “I'm sure his number will be in those rafters one day. So it'll be pretty special. And I’m excited to be there.”

Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm CT.