Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/maurice-schedules-morning-meeting-for-jets-in-los-angeles-after-loss-410717985.html

Maurice schedules morning meeting for Jets in Los Angeles after loss By: Paul Wiecek GLENDALE -- The Winnipeg Jets have taken their problems behind closed doors. The team -- which was called out in a very public way by head coach Paul Maurice this week following a 7-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at home on Wednesday -- held a post-game meeting for almost 20 minutes here at Gila River Arena Friday night following a 4-3 Jets loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. And they’re going to have yet another one in Los Angeles Saturday morning -- a club official announced late Friday night the team will gather again at the Staples Centre at 11:30 a.m. PT, a rare move for a team in the midst of games on back to back nights.. The Jets play the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night before moving on to San Jose, where they will play the Sharks Monday afternoon. League rules require teams to open their dressing rooms no more than five minutes after the final horn; the Jets kept reporters waiting for 17 minutes Friday night and captain Blake Wheeler was none too happy when he was asked after the game if the reason was a player’s meeting. "What do you think? You think we were just silent in here with the door shut? Obviously there’s a conversation had between us. Obviously I’m not going to give you anything that was said in this room." Maurice confirmed a meeting took place. "It’s important that that happens. Because at the end of it, they’re in this together. So it’s important that they stay together. "You don’t want an empty room. You can have a tough loss where your room gets empty. You have a couple and you need that room to stay together." http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/desert-dogs-410709715.html

Desert dogs Hellebuyck chased for second game in row as Coyotes pounce on Jets with four-goal first period By: Paul Wiecek GLENDALE, Ariz. — So what now? Yell louder? Would that even be possible?

And, more to the point, what good would it do anyway? There were a lot more questions than answers at Gila River Arena Friday on an evening the only response the Winnipeg Jets did provide was not the one head coach Paul Maurice was looking for when he publicly called out his team earlier this week. Playing the second-worst team in the NHL before a half-empty arena, the Jets were every bit as awful in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes as they were two days earlier in a humiliating 7-4 loss at home to the Montreal Canadiens Outhustled, outmuscled and outplayed for the second game in a row, Jets starting netminder Connor Hellebuyck lasted barely 10 minutes before being relieved of duty after having given up three goals on just six shots. If that sounds familiar, it should — Hellebuyck also didn’t make it out of the first period in the loss to Montreal, getting the hook after giving up three goals in just seven shots. The man the Jets were hoping would state his case this season as this franchise’s goalie of the future has now given up six goals on his last 13 shots and was last seen quietly muttering to himself in a corner. His teammates? A Jets team that had been winners of three of their previous four games and were coming off a particularly impressive 2-0 shutout of the Calgary Flames Monday at the MTS Centre are now suddenly reeling, having embarrassed both themselves and their coach this week with a pair of utterly inexplicable performances. Asked Friday morning what response he was expecting from his club after he so publicly berated the players mid-game against Montreal, Maurice told reporters he had every confidence his team would come out and "play our asses off." Maurice was wrong. And the question now is whether even he knows how to make things right. What Now? Good question. While the problems with this team the last two games clearly run deeper than just the goaltending, they begin there. Maurice doesn’t have much in the way of good options — or time to get it right. The Jets are back in action tonight in Los Angeles against the Kings and again Monday afternoon in San Jose against the Sharks. It seems inconceivable Maurice would dare give Hellebuyck what would be his eighth consecutive start tonight, but his only other option would be starting Michael Hutchinson, who carried a woeful 3.30 goals-against average and .890 save percentage into Friday but did play well in relief of Hellebuyck against the Coyotes. Call up Ondrej Pavelec from the Manitoba Moose, you say?

Pavelec has a 2.88 GAA and .912 save percentage in 17 games this season in the AHL. Those numbers are comparable to Hellebuyck’s in the NHL this season. Then there’s this: as bad as things have looked the past two games, it’s worth remembering the Jets and Hellebuyck were playing arguably their best hockey of the season less than a week ago. It went badly very quickly — and for no immediately apparent reason. The good news is that would seem to suggest a return to form could happen just as fast. But nothing’s changing if nothing’s changing. And what needs to change more than anything right now is this team’s effort level. Maurice said after practice in Winnipeg Thursday he didn’t punitively "bag skate" his team after the loss to Montreal because he didn’t want them to have an excuse for poor play in Glendale. Turns out they didn’t need one. How Did That Go? It’s hard to believe, but the Jets led this game 1-0 on a Shawn Matthias tap-in barely three minutes into the game. It was all Coyotes after that, with four goals in a span of just nine minutes, 56 seconds giving the Coyotes a 4-1 lead after the first period. That’s the way the score remained until early in the third when defenceman Mark Stuart, playing in relief of an injured and ill Ben Chiarot, scored his first goal of the season in what was the first game action for Stuart since Nov. 29. Stuart’s goal gave the Jets some life and a late push ensued, with Blake Wheeler making it a one-goal game with 90 seconds remaining, tipping in a point shot from Nikolaj Ehlers with the Jets’ net empty for the extra attacker. But it was all too little, much too late. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/birthday-boys-uncle-takes-a-shot-laine-scores-with-visit-signed-jersey-410651155.html

Laine plays the hero for birthday boy Uncle's Twitter invitation was 'worth a shot' as star rookie visits his nephew By: Jason Bell . Lucas Bydak had a bummer of a birthday party last Saturday after watching his favourite hockey player go down in a heap and get helped off the ice. But Patrik Laine showed up at his house five days later and the youngster knew his hero was feeling better.

Lucas, who turned eight on Tuesday, got just about the best belated birthday surprise ever when the 18-year-old Winnipeg Jets all-star forward, his girlfriend and his mother dropped by for a visit. "Honestly, I didn’t know," Lucas said Friday. "Patrik Laine’s mom comes knocking on the door with presents and says, ‘Do you want to come see Patrik?’ My mom (Nicole Berube) goes crazy and she says, ‘Yes!’ We went outside. He was in the car with his girlfriend. They weren’t sure if we were home." Laine, who has some free time while he’s out of the lineup recovering from a concussion, learned through social media Lucas was celebrating his birthday. It seems on Christmas Day, the boy’s uncle Marc tweeted out a letter Lucas sent to Laine, wishing him a Merry Christmas and inviting him to his party last Saturday afternoon. The uncle also included "worth a shot" in the tweet. The Finnish rookie sensation couldn’t make it to the party because he was on the ice playing the Sabres in Buffalo, where — as Lucas and every other member of Jets Nation is painfully aware — he got knocked out of the game after a head-on collision with defenceman Jake McCabe. He’s been out of the lineup since. While Laine’s teammates were headed to Arizona for Friday’s game with the Coyotes, he and his "entourage" made their way to the family’s home in south St. Vital to meet Lucas and deliver some special gifts, including a signed puck and picture and some of his favourite Finnish chocolate. The Grade 2 École Christine-Lespérance pupil was stunned. "It was really fun seeing him. Mind blowing... he’s my biggest hero, so that’s the best part," Lucas said. Laine’s mother, Tuija, who is living in Winnipeg with her son while the young NHL all-star gets accustomed to his new home, caught wind of the initial Twitter chatter and reached out to the family. Nicole responded with her family’s get-well-soon wishes to Patrik, who has 21 goals and 16 assists so far and is considered a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the league’s top rookie. Lucas and his friends had the Buffalo game on the TV during his birthday party and saw Laine get hurt. "I saw the hit. I was really sad," Lucas said. "I was crying about it later when I heard he had a concussion." There definitely were no tears during Thursday’s 10-minute visit. "I said the first words and it was, ‘Are you all right?’ I wasn’t really thinking about myself," said Lucas, who plays hockey for the Greendell Falcons White.

"He said, ‘Happy birthday’ and asked me how old I was. I asked him if he was going to the All-Star Game and he said, ‘Maybe.’ He asked me what position I play and I said, ‘I’m a centre.’" Nicole said she’s still awed by the kindness shown by the teen star. "When I talked to his mom by email, she said they were very happy to get in touch with us and that Patrik wanted Lucas to know that he was away in Buffalo and he couldn’t make the birthday party, so he apologized for that," she said. "He knew how important it was to Lucas. She said he’d like to send something to Lucas, so she wanted our address and that was it. We went back and forth by email, and then we were blown away when they came to the door. It’s unbelievable. "What he said to us was his hero is (Washington superstar Alex) Ovechkin and it wasn’t that long ago that he idolized him and he still does. And he thought that in Lucas, he saw himself and how important it was to meet his hero. It’s not just about the game, it’s about everything else, the responsibility of being a superstar in the NHL world. "As a mom — and I said this to Patrik’s mom — I couldn’t even put into words how appreciative I was that they came. And she knows. She’s a mom. She gets it. It’s just wonderful. And I know they are really happy in Winnipeg. They feel this is their second home." Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/01/14/hellebuyck-pulled-again-as-jets-fall-to-coyotes

Hellebuyck pulled again as Jets fall to Coyotes BY TED WYMAN, WINNIPEG SUN GLENDALE, Ariz. — It can’t get much uglier — two games, six goals on 13 shots and two hooks. Two days after their game was described as “horseshi--“ by their coach, the Winnipeg Jets produced an equally malodorous effort and the performance of their starting goaltender was alarmingly poor. The Jets gave up four first-period goals — three of them on just six shots against Connor Hellebuyck — and eventually fell 4-3 to the Arizona Coyotes, statistically one of the worst teams in the NHL. Hellebuyck was yanked midway though the first period for the second straight game. In total, he gave up six goals on 13 shots in his last two starts, including three in a 7-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Hellebuyck was making his seventh consecutive start and looked to be improving, especially after a 28-save shutout against the Calgary Flames on Monday. Then this happens — an almost unimaginable stretch of futility and a display of goaltending nowhere near befitting an NHL goalie.

What’s particularly unsettling about this loss is the fact that coach Paul Maurice was looking for a strong response after delivering an on-the-bench tirade during the Montreal game and repeating some of his words over the next day and a half. “I expect us to play hard, play our asses off, shift to shift,” Maurice said before the game Friday. They did play hard over the last 40 minutes, but the damage was done in a terrible first period. The Jets dressing room remained closed for 16 minutes after the game, even though it is supposed to be opened to the media after five minutes by league rule. Captain Blake Wheeler said it was a players meeting. “What do you think … you think we were just silent in here with the door shut?” Wheeler tersely responded to a reporter’s question. “Obviously there’s a conversation had between us obviously I’m not going to give you anything that was said in this room.” The Jets came out strong and carried the majority of play for the first few minutes, getting a goal from Shawn Matthias at 3:43 to go up 1-0. The lead didn’t last long and neither did the 1-1 tie. Brendan Perlini beat Hellebuyck with a high shot to the glove side at 4:49 — the first shot on net by the Coyotes — and Peter Holland scored on Arizona’s fourth shot at 8:26 to put the home side ahead. Jamie McGinn made it 3-1 at 10:41. That was on the sixth shot on goal and it chased Hellebuyck for the second straight game in favour of Michael Hutchinson. Perlini beat Hutchinson for a power play goal before the first period finished. Hutchinson was solid the rest of the way, making 22 saves. Mark Stuart, playing for the first time in six weeks, and Wheeler scored third period goals but it was not enough. “It was good how we responded (in the second and third), but we can’t afford lapses like that,” Stuart said. “We started pretty good but we had that lapse and it cost us the game.” The Jets now move on to Los Angeles, where they will face the Kings, who currently hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. With a different result Friday, the Jets might have had a chance to move past the Kings and into playoff position. But with the result they got they look much more like a lottery team than a playoff team. So what has to change? Most people don’t think Maurice is in any danger of losing his job. But a couple more performances like this, with all he’s been trying to get across to his players, and surely he will be on the hot seat.

It was pointed out to me by a Twitter follower that Maurice can’t stop pucks from the bench and there’s no question everything would be better if the Jets had top quality goaltending. Something has to be done in that area. There are goalies who could improve the Jets, possibly even one who is toiling on the farm in Winnipeg. Calling up veteran goalie Ondrej Pavelec — banished to the Manitoba Moose after seven seasons as the organization’s starting goalie — would be a desperate move by the Jets. But is it really serving Hellebuyck well to be getting destroyed and pulled repeatedly? He claimed his confidence was at a top-notch level Tuesday. How do you suppose it is now? No matter what, this team needs a shakeup of some kind and needs it stat. Three Stars Brendan Perlini, Coyotes - Rookie playing just his 16th NHL game scored a hat trick in the minors Tuesday and then had a two-goal night in the NHL Friday. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Coyotes - Blue-liner had three assists and was his usual strong self in the defensive zone. Mike Smith, Coyotes - Veteran goalie looked very sharp as the Jets turned up the heat in the second and third periods. Finished with 34 saves http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/01/13/nhl-trade-deadline-looms-large-for-canadian-clubs

NHL trade deadline looms large for Canadian clubs BY MICHAEL TRAIKOS, POSTMEDIA NETWORK Three months down, another three to go. But as we enter the second-half of the National Hockey League schedule, the date on every general manager’s mind right now is March 1. We’re still about six weeks away from the trade deadline and yet most teams spent this week holding internal meetings with their scouting staffs to prepare for the onslaught of phone calls that are sure to start after a very quiet first half of the season. “It’s that time of the year where the evaluation process is honed-in and the needs and wants and desires of each team are discussed,” Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “You set out with some marching orders from there. “I would suspect over the next 10 to 15 to 20 games, as you get closer towards that deadline, you’ll see chatter and intrigue pick up from that standpoint.”

The big question that inquiring GMs will be asking: Are you a buyer or a seller? At this time a year ago, when all seven Canadian teams missed the playoffs, the answer was fairly simple. This year, thankfully, it’s becoming a bit more complicated. While Montreal leads the Atlantic Division and Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa are holding down playoff spots, the three worst Canadian teams — Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg — are still very much in the race. The Canucks, who are tied for ninth place in the Western Conference standings, are only one point back of the final wild card spot. The 12th-place Jets are three points back. Heading into Friday night’s game against the Rangers, the 11th-place Leafs were only four points back of the Senators for the final spot in the Atlantic Division. Because of the league-mandated bye week, they had also played five fewer games than the Philadelphia Flyers, who have a six-point lead for the final spot in the wild card standings. As Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said on Friday, “This break couldn’t have come at a worst time” for a team that is 7-2-1 in its previous 10 games. “We had a pretty good run there, and we did a lot of it on the road and played extremely well,” Lamoriello said in a phone interview. “We certainly would have liked to have done better in the last game, but I think as a whole these last 10, 15 games we’ve played well.” The next 10-15 games will be equally as important. Though only five points separate the sixth-place team from the 12th-place team in the Western Conference — and six points separate sixth from 12th in the East — there is already a gap forming in the standings. The Sabres are seven points back of the Senators for the final spot in the Atlantic, along with the Red Wings (eight points back), Devils (nine points back of the final wild-card spot) and the last-place Islanders (12 points back), who appear to be sellers. The same goes for the Coyotes (16 points back of a wild card spot) and Avalanche (19 points back) in the Western Conference. Based on how many teams they have to leap over to get into the playoffs, some might add the Jets to that list. But Cheveldayoff is not ready to throw in the towel — or start trading away pending UFAs like Drew Stafford and Paul Postma — especially with top goal-scorer Patrik Laine and defenceman Tyler Myers expected back sometime soon from injury. “A lot of it depends on the injury situation for us here,” Cheveldayoff said. “We hope to get Patrik Laine back in the lineup as soon as possible as soon as he’s medically able. And the same goes for Tyler Myers. Those are two key pieces for us in that realm. “There’s lots of games to be played yet and a lot of discussions to have internally and externally before you can classify us or a lot of teams as truly buyers or sellers.” The Leafs don’t have injuries to deal with, but are in a similar wait-and-see approach with a young team that might be improving with each game it plays — or could be heading towards hitting a rookie wall. If it’s the latter, look for James van Riemsdyk to get shopped around. But that’s hardly an ideal situation.

“Every team in the National Hockey League wants to make the playoffs. Anybody who tells you any different, I wonder what they’re thinking or saying and why,” said Lamoriello, who is fully aware of what a playoff berth could mean for the development of Toronto rookies such as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. “So you do everything you possibly can and you know that it will certainly help the growth of players, the experiences, all of the above ... that’s unquestionable. “But to just do something for today, for the sake of it, or to pick up a few extra points, I don’t think you’re going to see that." When asked what he expects to see at the trade deadline, Lamoriello laughed. “You need a crystal ball,” he said. “There have been years where we’ve gone almost to the trade deadline and you think nothing is going to happen and then all of a sudden one trade goes and it’s almost like dominoes. So you never know. “Teams are very confidential as to what they are doing and they should be.” EXPANSION NOT AFFECTING TRADES It has been a quiet season when it comes to trades in the National Hockey League. But don’t blame the lack of player movement on the threat of the June expansion draft. While some teams are already planning ahead for which players will be on their protected lists when the Vegas Golden Knights pick their team at the end of the season, it’s reportedly not the reason why so few trades have occurred so far. “It’s a point that you consider,” Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “I know in our situation here, we’re focusing on the now and trying to go forward into the playoffs. Those are the discussions when we’re talking about acquiring someone in a trade. And then you have time after the season to really focus in on the expansion draft.” The expansion draft becomes even less of a concern for contending teams, added Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello. “That has to be behind your mind with whatever you’re thinking,” he said. “But you can’t expect teams that are in the top 25% of the league to be thinking about expansion with the idea of giving up success.” http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/01/13/burmistrov-looks-forward-to-winnipeg

Burmistrov looks forward to Winnipeg BY TED WYMAN, WINNIPEG SUN GLENDALE — Alex Burmistrov only just arrived in Arizona, but he’s already looking forward to getting back to Winnipeg. “I’m really excited about that,” Burmistrov said. “It’s going to be probably weird to walk into the different tunnel, but I’m sure it’s going to be good after a couple of shifts.”

The enigmatic Russian was claimed from the Jets off waivers by the Coyotes on Jan. 2, but he had trouble getting a U.S. work visa and was stuck in Vancouver for 10 days before it finally came through. He skated with his new team for the first time on Friday but was not in the lineup when the Jets played the Coyotes at Gila River Arena. He hopes to play Saturday at home against Anaheim and fully expects to be playing next Wednesday when the Coyotes visit Winnipeg. The former eighth overall draft pick played parts of five seasons with the Jets/Thrashers but couldn’t crack the lineup often this year. The 25-year-old centre had just two assists in 23 games with the Jets, but he’s hoping a fresh start with the Coyotes will jumpstart his career. “I want to show my potential, what I can do, what kind of player I am and what I didn’t show in the past years,” he said. “This is a big opportunity for me, and lots of pressure on me. I like that. I’m really excited.” Burmistrov wasn’t shocked when the Jets put him on waivers. Considering how much he was playing in Winnipeg, he saw it as his best option. “I was hoping, yeah, for sure,” he said. “The team doesn’t need you and I think this is a great opportunity for me, for my career and I’m just excited for this new chapter.” Asked to expand on his comment that the Jets didn’t need him, Burmistrov said: “That’s what they showed.” He said he bears no hard feelings toward the organization that drafted him. “Not from my side, I don’t know, maybe from their side,” he said. Burmistrov wasn’t even skating for the last 10 days so he needs a bit of time to get back into game shape. Though disappointed that he didn’t get a chance to play against the Jets Friday, he certainly understands. He also has something to prove. “Of course I do,’ he said. “I do have to prove for this organization now. I want to make sure they’re happy they get me.” Burmistrov said he spent his time in Vancouver working out every day and just walking around the city. He admits the ordeal got a bit frustrating at times.

“That was a long process for sure,” he sai. “It wasn’t easy sitting at the hotel in Vancouver. I guess I know Vancouver really well right now. It wasn’t easy but everything is done and now I’m here.” He said his best memory of his time in Winnipeg will be his first season there, right after the team moved from Atlanta. “I thought it was great,” he said, but was then asked if that meant he didn’t enjoy himself in Winnipeg since that time. “I can’t say that. I can’t explain. I was enjoying there but right now I’m in a different spot and I like it here.” Associated Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/nhl/perlini-scores-twice-coyotes-top-jets-4-3-410707185.html

Perlini scores twice, Coyotes top Jets 4-3 By: Jose M. Romero, The Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz. - Wherever he goes lately, Brendan Perlini scores. The Coyotes' 20-year-old forward had two goals, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Radim Vrbata each had three assists, and Arizona scored four first-period goals and held on for a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night. Perlini's fifth and sixth goals of the season came in the first, as did all three of Ekman-Larsson's and Vrbata's assists. Perlini had a hat trick Tuesday night in Tucson's 5-2 victory over Manitoba — Winnipeg's farm team — in the American Hockey League. Perlini, at one point this season, led the AHL in goals with 11, and had a six-game goal streak. He has six goals in his last three games -- one in the NHL against the New York Islanders last week, three at Tucson and two on Friday. "Going down to Tucson was great, big confidence boost and stuff," Perlini said. "Just trying to play the same style I do down there as I do up here. Coming back, obviously, I didn't miss a step." The Coyotes chased Jets starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck before the midway point of the period. The four goals were the most for Arizona in a period since scoring four second-period goals at Edmonton on Dec. 1, 2014. But Arizona had to hang on in the final seconds of the third period to win. Peter Holland and Jamie McGinn also had goals for the Coyotes, who have five points from their last three games.

Shawn Matthias, Mark Stuart and Blake Wheeler scored for the Jets, who have lost three of four. The Coyotes went five days without playing and looked fresh after being down 1-0 less than four minutes into the game. Perlini skated around the Jets' Drew Stafford for a left-handed wrister at 4:49 of the first period. Then came Holland's first goal as a Coyote at 8:26. He got enough of the puck for it to dribble over the goal line from close range. "Before the break, we were getting tired a little bit, and I think this refreshed everybody," Vrbata said. McGinn beat Hellebuyck with a shot off the goalie's glove at 10:41, and Hellebuyck was taken out in favour of Michael Hutchinson. Hellebuyck saved just three of six shots faced. Mike Smith, recently named an NHL All-Star for the first time, gave up the game's first goal to Matthias at 3:43 of the first period. Smith went on to make 34 stops. The Coyotes scored off of Hutchinson, too. On a power play, Perlini skated in for a shot that went off Hutchinson's pads, and Perlini stayed with the rebound to put it into net from a difficult angle at 14:45. It was the only goal allowed by Hutchinson, who had 22 saves. The Jets made it 4-2 on Stuart's first goal of the season early in the third period, then 4-3 with 90 seconds to play on Wheeler's deflection of shot. The Jets pulled Hutchinson and had an extra attacker on the ice for that goal, but couldn't equalize. "Not the way we wanted to start off this road trip. First period, four goals is pretty rough," Wheeler said. "But I thought we responded pretty well." NOTES: The Coyotes finally have C Alexander Burmistrov on the roster and able to play after he secured his visa to allow him to work in the U.S. Burmistov, picked up off waivers on Jan. 2, didn't play Friday against his former team, and won't play Saturday as he gets back to regular skating. He could play at Edmonton on Monday, coach Dave Tippett said ... F Jordan Martinook (upper-body injury) and D Kevin Connauton were scratched for Arizona. ... Tippett said Louis Domingue will likely start in goal over Smith on Saturday. ... D Ben Chiarot, F Brandon Tanev and D Julian Melchiori were scratched for Winnipeg. Melchiori was called up from Manitoba early Friday when the Jets placed F Patrik Laine on injured reserve for a concussion, retroactive to Jan. 7. ... The Jets are 3 for 17 on power plays this month, but have 21 goals in six January games. UP NEXT Jets: Continue a three-game West Coast road trip Saturday night at the Los Angeles Kings. Coyotes: Host Anaheim on Saturday, the second of a stretch of five games in seven days. NHL.com

https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-arizona-coyotes-game-recap/c-285668012

Coyotes use early lead to hold off Jets Arizona scores four first-period goals; Mike Smith gets first win since Dec. 15 by Jerry Brown / NHL.com Correspondent GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It's been a long time since the Arizona Coyotes scored four first-period goals, and they needed every one of them to win Friday. Brendan Perlini scored twice, and Oliver-Ekman Larsson and Radim Vrbata each had three assists in a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Gila River Arena. Peter Holland and Jamie McGinn scored for Arizona (13-22-6), who had four first-period goals for the first time since getting six in a 7-4 win against the Nashville Predators on March 28, 2013. It was the first time the Coyotes scored four goals in any period since the second period of a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 1, 2014. "I can't remember the last time we did that, but we have guys that are capable," said Ekman-Larsson, who tied his NHL high for assists in a game. "Now that we know we can do it, we'll have the confidence to keep doing it." Mike Smith made 34 saves for his first win since Dec. 15 against the Toronto Maple Leafs (3-2 in a shootout). Arizona has won two in a row after a nine-game losing streak and came off its five-day break with some firepower. "We were a tired team before the break, but that refreshed everybody and we were excited to play again," said Vrbata, who also tied his NHL high for assists in a game. "We had a great first period. In the end it was barely enough, but we'll take it." Shawn Matthias, Mark Stuart and Blake Wheeler scored for the Jets (20-22-3), who lost 7-4 to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday and held a postgame meeting after opening this three-game road trip with their third loss in four games. "Can we get better performances individually out of people? Yeah," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. "But they didn't quit. They kept competing and fighting to the very end and that means a lot right now." Connor Hellebuyck allowed three goals on six shots and was pulled 10:41 into the game. Michael Hutchinson made 22 saves in relief. The Jets got off to a good start when Toby Enstrom's shot-pass deflected off the shin pad of Coyotes defenseman Luke Schenn right to Matthias, who beat Smith at 3:43. The Coyotes then scored three of their four goals on odd-man rushes. Perlini, who scored in a 2-1 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Saturday and had a hat trick for the Tucson of the American Hockey League on Tuesday, beat Hellebuyck at 4:49 on Arizona's first shot.

After Holland scored his first goal of the season at 8:26 for a 2-1 lead, McGinn chased Hellebuyck with a redirect at 10:41, and Perlini made it 4-1 at 14:45 by chipping his power-play rebound past Hutchinson. "Going down to Tucson was a great confidence boost, and I was trying to play the same style up here as I did down there," Perlini said. "We gave up a quick one that kind of woke us up a little bit." Stuart scored his first goal in 71 games 2:46 into the third period, and Wheeler made it 4-3 on a deflection with 1:30 remaining. Goal of the game Perlini had the classic goal-scorer's goal, racing past a Jets defender on the rush and picking the top corner, short side, on Hellebuyck for his first. Save of the game Smith made a skate save on Wheeler's 6-on-4 rebound try with 55 seconds left in the third period. Unsung performance of the game Back after missing a game with a muscle pull, Coyotes center Martin Hanzal played 20:20, won 17 of 25 faceoffs, and was part of a penalty kill that was 2-for-2. Highlight of the game Wheeler's deflection of Nikolaj Ehler's shot from the high point with 1:30 left gave the Jets a chance. They said it "What do you think? Do you think we were just silent in here with the door shut? Obviously, there was a conversation had between us. Obviously, I'm not going to give you anything that was said in this room." -- Jets captain Blake Wheeler when asked if there was a meeting after the game Need to know Perlini had 14 goals in 17 in American Hockey League games. … Holland scored his first goal in 33 games (Feb. 20, 2016 for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Philadelphia Flyers). It was his 21st game with Arizona. … Stuart last scored Oct. 13, 2015 against the New York Rangers. What's next Jets: At the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; SN, FS-W, NHL.TV) Coyotes: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-A+, PRIME, NHL.TV) TSN.ca

http://www.tsn.ca/fine-details-are-woodcroft-s-craft-with-jets-1.649917?cid=trueAnthem&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5879eae904d30148042d266b&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Fine details are Woodcroft's craft with Jets By Paul Edmonds Play-By-Play Announcer, TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg As one of three brothers working in professional hockey, Todd Woodcroft understands his family connection to the game is unique. Although certainly not as deep or renowned as Canada’s First Family of Hockey, the Sutters, or the runner up Staals, or the soon-to-be included Stromes, the Woodcrofts have distinctively carved out their own niche as coaches in the game. As the middle brother, Todd Woodcroft joined the Winnipeg Jets last fall when head coach Paul Maurice created a third assistant coaching position. The idea was to have the new individual focus on select elements and details of the game and aid in enhancing skill and craft in those areas, particularly relating to face-offs and the club’s centres. Woodcroft’s wealth of experience and knowledge in some of those areas, along with a slight history with fellow assistant Jamie Kompon and a meeting with Maurice at the 2014 World Championships in Minsk, helped pave the way for a later move to Winnipeg. “I think the Jets were looking to have somebody with a little bit of energy,” he says. “And someone who was able to work with young guys and specifically with face-offs, which has been a big part of my career. I think that was a reason they asked me to come onboard.” And since the season started four months ago, the 44-year-old Woodcroft admits the fit has been “outstanding.” “When you’re in it every day – with a small part of a bigger team – it’s real rewarding,” he says. “And then to see the level of detail and the depth of caring from the other coaches, it rubs off on you and selfishly it makes me better. I’m tickled to be here. It’s awesome.” Prior to working with the Jets, Woodcroft started building his impressive resume years ago. In fact, his practical credentials list various hockey operations jobs both in North America and in Europe. His first big break came in 2000-01 when he accepted a job with the Minnesota Wild under Jacques Lemaire as the team’s video coach. He spent five seasons in St. Paul before assuming the same position with the Washington Capitals and then moved into a role as one of their amateur scouts. From there, he’s held positions as the European Scout for the Los Angeles Kings, Scouting Director for the Calgary Flames and an assistant coach with Canada, Belarus and Switzerland at the World Championships. And last September he was the special assignment coach with Sweden at the World Cup of Hockey, a position that helped create the meeting and dialogue with Maurice to facilitate his current coaching position with the Jets. A Toronto family, the Woodcroft brothers have certainly branched out in pursuit of advancing and improving their careers in the game. The youngest, Jay, is an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers, while older brother Craig is the head coach with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL.

“It’s just like a typical Canadian story,” says Woodcroft. “My dad was a goalie before they had masks, which explains quite a lot. But we’ve always had a real good rivalry; a real good competition going (between us). “But it’s very similar to every other Canadian story the only difference is we’ve had a lot of great luck. We’ve had a lot of people behind us that have helped us and given us chances.” Woodcroft’s responsibilities with the Jets include one-on-one skill work with individuals and cutting video clips, setting them up for review and analyzing them with the centres. This usually happens before practice. During on-ice workouts, he can be seen dropping countless pucks with the centremen to improve adeptness at winning immediate puck possession. This can include up to 200 pucks per day. “It’s an appreciable skill; kind of like putting in golf,” he says. “You have to constantly work at it.” Even though the club started the season without their top face-off man in Bryan Little for essentially 24 games, the club’s percentages at the dot are trending upward. In fact, over the last 14 games they have been in the top half of the league led by Little (57 per cent) and Mathieu Perreault (52 per cent). Little, for his part, is experiencing a career high percentage rating in face-offs this season. During the game, Woodcroft is also an extra set of eyes, helping to identify adjustments or counters that need to be made. He is usually connected with a headset to the bench from the press box with Kompon. Woodcroft has also made quick work of immersing himself in the Winnipeg community. He can often be found working with kids on off nights at the Jets’ practice facility, the MTS IcePlex, and as a guest coach through True North Sports & Entertainment initiatives. NOTES: Since the NHL returned to Manitoba only five Jets have registered hat-tricks: Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine. In fact, Laine, has already done it twice in only his first season, the only Winnipeg Jets player that can boast that accomplishment to date ... Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has posted three shutouts this season, all at home. TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINK) http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/lebrun-despite-goaltending-jets-still-in-playoff-race-1.649937

LeBrun: Despite goaltending, Jets still in playoff race TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joins Hustler & Lawless to look at the inconsistency of the Winnipeg Jets, and the playoff races in both the Western and the Eastern conferences. www.winnipegjets.com

https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-open-road-trip-with-loss-to-coyotes/c-285663900

Jets open road trip with loss to Coyotes Hellebuyck pulled after allowing three goals on six shots by Ryan Dittrick @ryandittrick / WinnipegJets.com GLENDALE, AZ - It was like bad case of déjà vu. With a chance to redeem themselves after their most disappointing effort of the season, the Winnipeg Jets looked no better early on in the first of a three-game road trip, surrendering four first-period goals en route to a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. For the second straight game, Connor Hellebuyck was given the hook after allowing three goals on only a handful of shots early in the opening frame. In Wednesday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens, he allowed three on seven shots. Tonight? Three on six. Michael Hutchinson finished the game, stopping 22 of 23 shots in relief, including a Tobias Rieder breakaway that could have iced it midway through the second period. Shawn Matthias, Mark Stuart and Blake Wheeler supplied the offence for Winnipeg. After the game, the Jets held a closed-door meeting that lasted more than 15 minutes. "It's important that that happens," said Head Coach Paul Maurice. "At the end of [the day], it's important they stay together, because you don't want an empty room after a loss." To their credit, the Jets had a strong second and third, and were decidedly the better team in those final 40 minutes, but by then the damage had been done. After Stuart cut the deficit to 4-2 early in the third period, Wheeler made it a one-goal game on a great redirection in front after the Jets pulled the goalie for an extra attacker. Overall, the Jets outshot the Coyotes 28-18 in the final two periods, and 37-29 overall. "We can be better in all the small areas of the game, but they never quit," Maurice said. "Can we be better? Sure. Better performances, individually, out of people? Yeah. But they didn't quit. They kept competing, kept fighting to the very end and that means a lot right now." Matthias opened the scoring 3:43 into the game, but despite the strong start, the Jets heeding advice to work "their asses off" in response Wednesday's defeat, it was all downhill from there. The Coyotes replied on their first shot of the game just 1:07 later as the red-hot Brandon Perlini made the Jets pay dearly for a turnover at the offensive blue line. With speed down the right side, Perlini rounded the defence and fired a quick shot high over Hellebuyck's left shoulder for his fifth of the year. Perlini, who spent the bye week with the Coyotes' AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, recorded a hat trick this past Tuesday against the Manitoba Moose, and now has four goals in his last five NHL games. But while the fans were still settling back in their seats after the latest round of celebration, the home team went back to work and put up another one.

And another. Jamie McGinn made it a 3-1 game with a redirection at 10:41 before Perlini's power-play goal - a rebound at the side of the net - put the Jets in all sorts of trouble at 14:45. That's the way the score remained until the third period when the Jets added two to come within a goal. "After that first one, we got off to a good start and were just trying to get going again, and we tried to get that one back a little too much, got a little too aggressive on the offensive side of things," Wheeler said. Despite all that went south in a dreadful opening period, the Jets had plenty of time to show some pride and work themselves back in the game and potentially even the score late in the third period. "Not the way we wanted to start off this road trip. First period, four goals (against) is pretty rough after giving up seven against Montreal, but we responded (in the second and third periods) pretty well." Stuart pulled the Jets a little closer at 2:46 of the third. With Matthias creating havoc in the blue paint, the defenceman sifted one through from the top of the left circle, beating Arizona goalie Mike Smith low glove side to make it 4-2. "It's tough. We've got to start on time," Matthias said. "I thought we did, we had a really good first shift. We scored early and I don't know if we just let off the gas or whatever it was, but we've got to be ready to go tomorrow night. We get to get back at it quickly here, which is good. "We had a good meeting and we're going to respond well tomorrow." https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--paul-maurice/t-277437442/c-48362903

POSTGAME | Paul Maurice Head coach Paul Maurice addresses the media postgame at Gila River Arena https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--blake-wheeler/t-277437442/c-48362603

POSTGAME | Blake Wheeler Blake Wheeler's postgame comments following a 4-3 loss to the Coyotes https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--shawn-matthias/t-277437442/c-48362703

POSTGAME | Shawn Matthias Shawn Matthias' postgame comments following a 4-3 loss to the Coyotes https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--mark-stuart/t-277437442/c-48362403

POSTGAME | Mark Stuart Mark Stuart's postgame comments following a 4-3 loss to the Coyotes www.moosehockey.com http://moosehockey.com/news/recap-jan13/

Recap: Chicago 4 at Moose 2 By Daniel Fink Chicago Wolves (23-12-3-2) at Manitoba Moose (14-17-3-2) Friday, January 13, 2017 – MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB Scoring Summary 1 2 3 F Chicago Wolves 0 2 2 4 Manitoba Moose 1 1 0 2 Shots By Period 1 2 3 F Chicago Wolves 8 9 19 36 Manitoba Moose 9 17 11 37 Special Teams PP PK PIM Chicago Wolves 1/4 3/4 8 Manitoba Moose 1/4 3/4 8 Goaltender Summary Goaltender MIN SA SV Chicago Wolves Pheonix Copley 60:00 37 35 Manitoba Moose Eric Comrie 58:18 35 32 Goal Summary P TIME TEAM GOAL ASSIST ASSIST STR SCORE 1 9:08 MB Ryan Olsen (3) Peter Stoykewych (8) Scott Kosmachuk (9) ES 1-0 MB 2 0:25 CHI Wade Megan (19) ES 1-1 2 5:02 MB Kyle Connor (4) Kevin Czuczman (12) Jack Roslovic (12) PP 2-1 MB 2 16:42 CHI Morgan Ellis (4) Reid McNeill (4) Andrew Agozzino (14) ES 2-2 3 16:41 CHI Bryce Gervais (10) Morgan Ellis (10) Andrew Agozzino (15) PP 3-2 CHI 3 19:59 CHI Kenny Agostino (16) Andrew Agozzino (16) EN 4-2 CHI

Game Story The Manitoba Moose (14-17-3-2) and Chicago Wolves (23-12-3-2) met to close out the first half of Manitoba’s 2016-17 home schedule. The hosts opened the scoring 9:08 into the game when Ryan Olsen gathered in and sent home a Peter Stoykewych rebound. The Moose stayed in front thanks to eight stops from Eric Comrie. They nearly added to the lead when Scott Kosmachuk cut across into the high-slot and rang a shot off the crossbar with mere seconds left in the frame. Chicago erased the Moose lead just 25 seconds into middle period. Wade Megan snared the puck in the faceoff circle before placing a perfect shot into the top corner of the Manitoba net. The Moose restored their lead five minutes into the period courtesy of a powerplay goal. Kevin Czuczman sent the puck to the front of the net where Kyle Connor knocked it down and deposited it into the Chicago net. Again the Wolves evened the score, their second goal coming with 3:18 left in the period. Morgan Ellis’ point shot found its way through the crowd in front of Eric Comrie and to the back of the net. The marker left Manitoba and Chicago tied 2-2 after 40 minutes. The Moose started out the third in dangerous territory, facing an early five-on-three penalty kill. Manitoba faced 51 seconds of the two-man disadvantage and cleared the second penalty off the board. With 3:19 to go, Bryce Gervais came out of the penalty box, accepted a stretch feed from Morgan Ellis and broke in alone. Gervais made a move in tight and just squeezed the puck by Comrie and it trickled in off the post to put Chicago ahead. Kenny Agostino scored an empty netter with 0.6 seconds left to leave the score 4-2 Chicago. Quick Hits Jack Roslovic registered his 20th point of the season. Scott Kosmachuk and Kevin Czuczman have assists in back-to-back games. Game attendance was announced at 4,373. Quotable Head Coach Pascal Vincent – “If we play that way, we’re going to win hockey games. We were good, we were on the puck we were working hard. Talked to the players about that. That’s the foundation of what we want to do. We want to work hard and we’re going to teach the mistakes. Obviously we made some mistakes. The foundation was right, the mindset was right.” Goaltender Eric Comrie – “I thought we played a good game. I thought we played solid throughout the whole game. That’s what we’ve got to do to win hockey games. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.” What’s Next? The Moose and Wolves rematch on Sunday in a 2 p.m. puck drop for Firefighter Appreciation Day. Tickets for Sunday’s matinee at MTS Centre are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.