Be sure to capture the JetsTV Reside Pre-Game Display with Jamie Thomas, Mitchell Clinton & more beginning at 6:00pm CT right here on WinnipegJets.com and the Jets mobile app, as well as YouTube and Facebook Stay.WINNIPEG – A streak of six consecutive games against Eastern Conference opponents begins tonight for the Winnipeg Jets as they welcome the Detroit Purple Wings to Bell MTS Place.But in the mind of Andrew Copp, it doesn’t matter what conference Winnipeg’s opponent is from, the team has one singular focus heading into tonight.”We worry about us in here. Obviously there are some different styles between LA and Anaheim and Carolina and Detroit,” said Copp. “That said, we’re worried about what we can do and how to play our sport.” Video: PREGAME | Andrew Copp The Jets (37-17-9) have had two days of practice since dropping a 6-5 decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.That has offered plenty of time for Nikolaj Ehlers to get to know his new line mate, Paul Stastny.”He’s a Manchester United fan, I don’t like that. I’m a Chelsea fan,” said Ehlers with a grin.”I think as a line we created some chemistry pretty quick. He’s an easy player to play with. There’s not much you need to do to be able to play with a guy like him, or need to change.”He came in and worked hard, and played the right way Now it’s just a matter of trying to continue that.”The trio of Ehlers, Stastny, and Patrik Laine combined for two goals and six points Tuesday night, and head coach Paul Maurice feels there are things the young wingers can learn from the veteran Stastny. One of them, that doesn’t nece sarily only apply to Ehlers and Laine, but to all young players, is what Maurice calls ‘offensive confidence.'”There’s a patience to his game on where there’s offence, and where there’s not offence,” said Maurice. “The guy knows he’s going back on the ice so he doesn’t have to prove to anybody that he can do some certain offensive things.”The young guys come in at times, because that’s what they’re selling to the team, they feel they have to display it every time. They’ve been able to do it in the past, or when they tried to make a play that was really not the right play to make, there was no cost to it. Here, there’s a cost.”You throw it into the middle when there’s no place to put it, and you’ve got a real problem going the other way. The veteran guys, they learn when to do it, and when not to do it. A big part of offensive confidence is the plays you don’t feel you have Jamaal Charles Jersey to make, that you don’t force. He’s got that in his game.”Video: PREGAME | Paul MauriceOnce again, the Jets’ morning skate didn’t include full line rushes, as six regulars (Stastny, Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Bryan Little, Matt Hendricks, and Connor Hellebuyck) didn’t take part.This is what the Jets line-up could seem like tonight, based on the line rushes at yesterday’s practice:Connor-Scheifele-WheelerPerreault-Little-RoslovicEhlers-Stastny-LaineHendricks-Copp-ArmiaMorri sey-ByfuglienKulikov-MyersMorrow-ChiarotTonight’s recreation is stop number three on a five-game road trip for the Crimson Wings, who are coming off a 2-1 lo s to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.The Detroit roster could get a bit of a boost, as defenceman Mike Green is expected to return to action after mi sing seven games with a neck injury.”We know we need to be hard on their D and make them turn, and put heavy pre sure on them in their zone. We know their D is going to be active, every team is,” said Copp. “Obviously he’s probably the most active one in that group, and it’ll help their power play a little bit. So maybe a little bit of an adjustment on the PK, but other than that, it’s the same activity for us.”Video: PREGAME | Nikolaj EhlersWith four Central Division teams in action tonight – including the Predators, who lead the Division by six points – the Jets are eager to erase the memory of Tuesday’s lo s by wrapping up a two-game home stand on the right note.”I’ve always said we have to win no matter what. If it’s our division or not, it’s two points on the line, and we have to go get them,” said Ehlers. “It’s going to be like that now, and it’s going to be like that at the end of the season. We’ve got to win tonight.”Hellebuyck (32-10-8, 0.922 save percentage) is expected to start in goal for the Jets, with puck drop set for 7 pm CT.Video: INJURY UPDATE | Steve Mason ICE CHIPSSteve Mason will play for Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, on Saturday – and po sibly Sunday – as the 29-year-old inches closer to a return from his second concu sion of the season.The injury occurred during a morning skate in Chicago on Jan. 12.”Much like the first one, the symptoms kind of came on as the day progre sed. They lingered quite a bit longer than the original one this year,” said Mason. “With these things you never know how long it’s going to take. You have to try and stay patient and try and stay engaged. It’s tough at times.”It’s been just an overall long year. Being out of the line Demarcus Walker Jersey -up so much, it’s not fun. But that’s the way the cards have fallen this year. You deal with that, and I’m just excited to finally be almost getting into game action here.”Mason has been sporting a new mask in practice the last couple weeks. He says it has “a better shell, better construction, and better padding in it,” despite it being the same shape as the one he’s worn for multiple seasons.The toughest part about the recovery this time around was getting used to seeing shots again.”After being off the ice for so long, and more so now on the ice not flinching when a puck is coming. When I first got back again on the ice, that’s what I found myself doing, was pulling away from the puck,” said Mason. “Obviously as a goaltender you can’t be doing that. It was just a matter of feeling comfortable again, and I’m at that point now where I’m feeling good about my recreation and it’s good to get again into some game action.”After the weekend, Mason says the plan is for him to meet the team in New York, as the Jets continue a season-long six-game road trip.- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.comJETS Recreation NOTESTonight’s GameThe Winnipeg Jets play the second match of a two-game homestand tonight against the Detroit Purple WingsThe Jets lost 6-5 to the Nashville Predators in the first match of the homestand on Tuesday nightAfter tonight’s recreation, the Jets embark on a season-high six-game road trip, with five games against Metropolitan Division teams and the last game in Nashville.Jets vs. Crimson Wings Notes- The Jets and Purple Wings split last season’s two games, with the Jets winning 5-3 in Detroit, and losing 3-4 (so) in Winnipeg.- The Jets are 5-3-1 in their last nine games against the Wings.- Winnipeg is a perfect 14-of-14 on the penalty kill in their last four games against Detroit, but are 1-for-13 (7.7%) on the power play in that same span.Again HomeTonight marks the 12th time Winnipeg has played at home in its last 14 games…The Jets have the third-best home record in the NHL this season at 23-7-2The Jets have scored a league-leading 123 goals at home this season, including 25 goals in their last five home gamesWinnipeg is second in the NHL with a 29.2% power play percentage at homeThe Jets enter tonight’s recreation having lost back-to-back home games for only the second time this season.Facing the EastThe Jets are 11-6-5 against the Eastern Conference this season, including a 6-3-2 record versus the Metropolitan DivisionWinnipeg has won six of their last seven games against Eastern Conference teamsAt 22 games, the Jets have played the fewest games against the Eastern Conference in the NHL this seasonWinnipeg plays six consecutive games against the EastOf the 10 road games Winnipeg has left, eight are against an Eastern Conference opponentBlake Wheeler leads the Jets with 30 points (8G, 22A) in 22 games against the Eastern Conference, which is sixth among Western Conference players.Flexing Its PowerThe Jets have a power play goal in six consecutive games, going 8-for-21 (38.1%) in the proce sIt’s the second time this season the Jets have scored a power play goal in six consecutive gamesOverall, the Jets are second in the NHL this season with a power play clicking at 24.7%. Now That’s a Debut!Newly acquired Paul Stastny made his Jets debut on Tuesday after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues on MondayHe was named the game’s second star after tallying a goal and an a sist, which ended a seven-game goalle s drought for himDefenceman Joe Morrow also made his Jets debut after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on MondayHe played 12:08 and finished the match plus-one with two hits and a blocked shot.Streaking LainePatrik Laine had two a sists against Nashville to extend his point streak to six gamesFive of Laine’s last six games have been two-point games, giving him 11 multi-point games this seasonLaine is two games away from matching his career high of an eight-game point streak, which he has done twice.Wingman WheelerCaptain Blake Wheeler had an a sist on Tuesday to extend his a sist and point streaks to nine games (4G, 10A)…His a sist streak is a franchise record and second longest in the NHL this seasonWheeler now has 55 a sists on the season, which is second in the NHL and a new career high for the 31-year-oldHe is on pace for 72 a sists this season, which would break Marc Savard’s https://www.broncosside.com/Denver-Broncos/Billy-Turner-Jersey franchise record of 69 a sists set during the 2005-06 season.Beast versus the EastGoaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 9-2-4 versus the East in 2017-18 with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .925 save percentageHis succe s against the NHL’s other conference is particularly evident at Bell MTS Place, where he is 9-1-1 in his 11 starts and he owns a 2.07 GAA and a .935 SV% in those tilts.Jets vs. Red Wings All-Time RecordsOverall: 9-11-3At Bell MTS Place: 2-1-1At Detroit: 5-6-2 read more →