Jets, Canucks, walk fine line between competing and resting

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Published Apr 18, 2024  •  Last updated 6 hours ago  •  2 minute read

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The Jennings Trophy and second place in the NHL’s Western Conference may be up for grabs, but the Winnipeg Jets will dress what looks more like a preseason lineup for Game 82 against Vancouver tonight.

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Sitting out will be stars Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey, captain Adam Lowry, forward Vlad Namestnikov and defenceman Brenden Dillon.

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If the Jets allow less than three goals, they’ll finish with the fewest goals against, winning the Jennings Trophy for the first time in franchise history.

If they win, they’ll pass the Canucks for second in the West, which could lead to home-ice advantage if the teams meet in the Conference Final.

Head coach Rick Bowness left it up to the players to decide if they wanted to suit up or get some rest before the playoffs start.

“Some of those guys, we asked them, do you want to play? And they said definitely,” Bowness said. “Then some of the other guys didn’t want to play. So if they don’t want to play, there’s no sense putting them in because it’s not going to work, they’re not going to be engaged in the game. And I know we’re walking a fine line because we want the two points, we want to take a run at the Jennings. But the bigger picture is what do we have to do to get ready for the playoffs?

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“Don’t forget, some of these guys are banged up a little bit. It gives them an extra day or two to get ready for the playoffs.”

Two players called up from the AHL Manitoba Moose will make their big-league debuts tonight: forwards Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov.

The 20-year-old Lambert, a first-round draft pick two years ago, leads the Moose with 54 points, including 20 goals, in 63 games.

Chibrikov, a second-round choice three years ago, has 17 goals, 46 points in 69 AHL games this season.

“You’ve worked your whole life to get here. Just enjoy the game,” was Bowness’s advice to the rookies. “And we know they’ll be excited, we know they’ll be nervous. When they’re playing that well down there they deserve a shot. But the most important thing is it’s a game they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives, and we want them to enjoy it.”

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Also called up from Manitoba as insurance were forward Parker Ford and goalie Collin Delia.

All four are expected to return to the Moose for the AHL playoffs.

The Canucks, who have 109 points, one more than the Jets, are taking a similar approach, leading scorer J.T. Miller, top goal scorer Brock Boeser and defencemen Filip Hronek among their scratches.

The matchup in goal pits Winnipeg backup Laurent Brossoit against Canucks No. 1 Thatcher Demko.

The game also provides a chance for players like Jets forward Cole Perfetti to get back into the lineup.

Perfetti was a healthy scratch the last three games.

“Last time I was out for four or five games and came back against L.A., and was pretty proud of myself for the way that I was able to just hop back in and make an impact,” Perfetti said. “That’s going to be my goal tonight.”

The Jets start the postseason against Colorado, with the first two games likely to be Sunday and Tuesday in Winnipeg.

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