GAMEDAY: Jets vs Rangers

WINNIPEG -Finally, the day has come.
The preseason is in the rear-view mirror. Now it's time for the Winnipeg Jets to test their new systems with valuable points in the standings on the line.
"You've had enough meetings, you've had enough practices. Let's play, that's what gets the adrenaline going," said head coach Rick Bowness. "I love home openers, I love opening games, I love getting the season going, I love getting into the routine of the whole thing. I'm excited."
So are the players. They've practiced so much over the last couple of weeks - with only two preseason games to speak of over the last 14 days - that they're just as fired up as Bowness.
And what a first test it will be, as the New York Rangers - already playing their third game of the season - come into Canada Life Centre after a 7-3 win over the Minnesota Wild last night.
"New York is a great team. Minny is a great team. In this league, anything can happen," said Nikolaj Ehlers. "We're concentrating on our game tonight. It's going to be a fun game, of course. Home opener, fans, all of that. We're pumped and excited to go."

The Rangers (2-0-0) are known for their speed. It's something the Jets also want to be known for, and there is a ton of it on Ehlers' line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.
Those three combined for 104 goals last season, but Ehlers said the focus is just as much about defence as it is offence.
"You skate and you work both ways. You work just as hard offensively as you do defensively, if not harder defensively," said Ehlers. "You play well defensively, as we've shown, you're going to get your chances. We've been able to score on those chances so it's pretty clear one what we need to do and we all know."
Being able to rely on very line at both ends of the rink also helps Bowness when it comes to line matching. Tonight's assignment against the Rangers presents a challenge in that regard, as New York had offensive contributions from their top two lines and their blue line in the win over Minnesota.
"We have three lines that can go head-to-head with anybody, and we have to trust them," said Bowness. "You're not going to get into match-ups where we have our top guys sitting. That's always a danger in that. They lose a rotation or two. We have to learn to trust our players, and we have to learn to show confidence in them."

Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal for the Jets, with the line rushes at the morning skate giving the indication that Winnipeg's line-up will look like this:
Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers
Perfetti-Dubois-Wheeler
Barron-Lowry-Appleton
Maenalanen-Gustafsson-Gagner
Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Stanley-Schmidt
In the preseason, the Jets showed a lot of promise on special teams, especially in the final two tilts with the Calgary Flames.
The power play went a combined 4-for-9, while the penalty kill was a perfect 10-for-10.
That's important, especially with the amount of penalty calls early in the season as teams get used to regular season pace.
"Our puck management is very, very important tonight," said Bowness. "You don't check with your feet standing still and your stick up here. You keep your feet moving and you try to disrupt their attack. It's an effort, so we do try to stay out of the box, but you know, again it's our first game and the timing is going to be a little scrambly at times and we get that."

So while it isn't opening night for the Rangers, the Jets will try to use the energy of the home crowd and the anticipation of a new season to their advantage.
After all, memories from opening night can stay with a player for a long time.
"Every year you get a little bit older, a little more experienced, but the excitement never goes away opening day," said Josh Morrissey. "It's what we all work for. It's what we've worked hard for all summer and through training camp."
They've been motivated all summer by the disappointment of last season. Bowness says the slate has been wiped clean, and Morrissey agrees.
"I think we feel we've really put in a great set of work here in training camp," Morrissey said. "Guys in our locker room, we believe in our group and now it's time to get 82 games to get into the playoffs and show that."
Puck drop is set for 7 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
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