WHEELER GETS ICE SHAVED

OTTAWA – Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler understands the premise behind having his ice time shaved a bit recently as head coach Paul Maurice tries to get him recharged before the playoffs arrive.

Wheeler is still averaging just more than 20 minutes per night, but has been below that number in four of the past five games going into Monday’s match against the Ottawa Senators.

“(The coaches) are doing what is best for our team. They’ve been doing it all year and they’re looking out for the individuals as well,” said Wheeler, who has 20 goals and 87 points in 78 games this season. “I don’t think much about it. I go (on the ice) when my number is called. Obviously, as the games heat up and the magnitude grows, you want to be on the ice a lot. I think that will be the case. We’re just really fortunate to have four really good lines and we can roll through them and get everybody in the game.”

Since Wheeler is a key contributor at even strength, on the power play and the penalty-kill, trimming his ice time can potentially disrupt his rhythm, so there’s a fine line Maurice needs to straddle.

Wheeler didn’t sound like someone who was interested in sitting out a game during the final four of the regular season, but said he would take it as it comes.

“It’s not up to me,” said Wheeler. “We’ll make any decision for what is best for me and what’s best for the team. We’ll cross that road when it comes.”