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It’s go time for the Jets |
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The Jets have not played a hockey game since Aug. 6, a 4-0 loss to the Calgary Flames and a loss that ended their 2019-20 season.
A little over five months later the Jets are back at it, playing a meaningful hockey game and once again, a hockey game against the Flames.
“After only playing a handful of games in the last nine or so months, it’s something we’re really looking forward to,” said Adam Lowry. “This is what we’ve done our entire lives, to be able to be able to get back to that we’re really happy and really excited for it.”
The Jets remember what happened in August and they’re looking to use it as motivation. The Flames were by far the better team against an undermanned Jets team during their series inside the bubble.
“We got beat in that series and I’m still bitter about it to this day because I want to win. They ruined our chances at a Stanley Cup so for me, personally, I’m going to use it as motivation and I’m a little angry that they ruined it for us,” said Connor Hellebuyck.
“I mean, they’re a good team and hats off to them, they played a good series, but I think it would be crazy for us not to use it to try to get a little jump on them energy wise.”
Game 1 of 56 in a season where every single point up for grabs is extremely important. For the Jets and the other six teams in the North division, getting off to a good start will be important. Stumbling out of the gate could provide a hole too deep to climb out of.
“There are no nights to take off or write off where you can say, ‘Well, the next one’s going to be twice as important,’” Hellebuyck said. “Now, every single night is going to be important, it’s going to have that playoff feel. So, I expect a playoff feel right from drop of the puck.”
It’s been an interesting run of events in Winnipeg from the end of the season in August, to the drop of the puck to come on Thursday.
Beneficial to the Jets, Patrik Laine is still here and the veteran forward is putting the offseason trade rumors behind him, instead focusing on an important season for him.
“I’ve been excited to get the opportunity to play again and it doesn’t matter what kind of jersey I have on, I’m always gonna perform 110%, I’m always gonna give everything I have, leave it all on the ice,” he said.
“That’s something I do. I’ll be good this year and I’ll be playing as hard as I can and that’s gonna be good for me and for the team.”
The Jets may be without forward Nikolaj Ehlers Thursday as he remains in the NHL’s newly created Covid Protocol Related Absence group.
"He's a Covid Protocol Related Absence. I think him playing [Thursday] night is in the range of possibilities,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “There is a spectrum of things that causes you to be on the acronym squad. Any one of those can have a different outcome."
Throughout the season it will be interesting to see what factors play into whether you land on this list or not, and how much time you’ll ultimately miss.
"Say a player comes to the rink with the sniffles. He's going to get temperature checked and tested, then sent home. Then there is a protocol that's going to have to be followed after that,” said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “There's not going to be a time frame attached to anything in that protocol. It's all going to be testing related."
If Ehlers is not cleared to play before the contest, Mathieu Perreault will get the call up from the taxi squad and take his spot.
Perrault was placed on waivers Monday in order to be assigned to the taxi squad. It was a nerve wracking 24 hours for Perrault as he awaited to see if he would be claimed or not.
"Obviously when I heard yesterday, I wasn't really too excited about it. But it was a cap situation, something they had to go ahead with. Finding out [Tuesday] I was staying here, I was pretty happy,” said Perrault.
"Obviously for me here with my family, my kids in school and stuff, it wouldn't have been a really ideal situation for me to have to go somewhere else. That part of it got me a little nervous. It's just part of this business and I understand that. And I'm just glad that I'm still here."
Maurice revealed Thursday that defenseman Dylan DeMelo will not play on Thursday after his wife had a baby. Logan Stanley will be recalled from the Taxi Squad.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
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