Laine admits he and his linemates aren’t creating enough scoring chances … Brossoit stays patient waiting for a start in net … Roster decision looming for Jets
Patrik Laine doesn’t often mince words.
So when asked for his thoughts on how his line with
Bryan Little and Nikolaj Ehlers has performed during the past two games, Laine didn’t hold back.
“I don’t think we’ve created any scoring chances yet, so hopefully it will be better,” said Laine, whose Jets host the Carolina Hurricanes to open a six-game homestand on Sunday. “That’s kind of the key. We’re not supporting (each other) in the O-zone. Just trying to get some chemistry. When we see the play, we can make the play. We don’t have to force it. We’re good players and we can still make plays, but we’ve got to keep things simple.”
Laine has one goal and two points in four games this season, while recording 15 shots on goal.
He’s moving well on the ice after dropping 15 pounds during the off-season, but he hasn’t been as dangerous as we’ve come to expect coming out of the gate.
In 31 games, dating back to Mar. 20 of last season, Laine has been limited to seven goals — and just two have those have come at even strength.
“We need to be better as a team and I need to be better as a player,” said Laine. “It’s my job to help the team to win. If I can score, that’s good. But if I can’t and we’re still winning, I’m still fine.”
Has Laine noticed a difference in how he’s being defended?
“No, not really. Just more on the power play,” said Laine. “That’s the time when you see that they’re playing you differently. There’s not a lot of room and not a lot of time, but we’ve got a good power play and four other good players and they can make it happen. At five on five, you don’t really notice it, but we’ve just got to create more chances with my linemates.”
Jets head coach Paul Maurice has a pretty good idea of what can lead to more chances being generated by the trio.
“The key piece is have to get a certain amount of time — it can’t be strictly a rush game — you have to get a certain amount of time in the offensive zone, and then you have to create enough confusion in the offensive zone that the reads become more difficult,” said Maurice. “They do it differently (Laine) is a big fellow that can get it off his stick real quick, but (Ehlers) has to do that differently. And (Little’s) challenge is to read off the two of them because they have unique styles of games, so offensive-zone time is part of the place that we’re looking for them to start in that process of scoring some goals.”
BROSSOIT WAITS HIS TURN
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has started each of the first four games of the season and is set to make his fifth in a row as the Jets open a six-game homestand on Sunday.
For backup Laurent Brossoit, he’s eager to make his first start but is working on ways to remain sharp in the meantime.
“I’m learning that you focus on what’s in your control, you don’t go above and beyond that and try too hard and go out of your way and make things even tougher on yourself,” said Brossoit. “Just do what you can in practice and enjoy the lifestyle with the team and get acclimated that way, and whenever you get your start, you get your start.”
Brossoit understood Hellebuyck was going to receive a heavy workload, but the expectation is that he’ll be called upon to make roughly 20 starts as the understudy.
“Felt good in preseason and it was nice to get into three games and then having that feeling obviously propels that motivation to get into the net as soon as possible,” said Brossoit. “Feeling good in practice, too, so any time is a good time.”
Brossoit, who trains with Hellebuyck in the summer as part of the NET360 program in Kelowna, is impressed with the growth in his goalie partner’s game.
“The more you play, the better you feel. The more comfortable you are out there, the more relaxed you’re going to be, and the more relaxed you are the slower the puck’s going to be,” said Hellebuyck. “So, you can tell that when you get in a season like he did last season with how many games he got in, he’s starting to find a rhythm and it shows, for sure.”
Maurice wasn’t ready to show his cards when asked if we were getting closer to Brossoit making his first start of the season.
“Closing in on it,” said Maurice.
The best bet is Brossoit gets a start at some point during the homestand, since the first time the Jets play games on consecutive days is on the road on Oct. 26 against the Detroit Red Wings and Oct. 27 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
PETAN REJOINS TEAMMATES
Forward Nic Petan was back on the ice with his teammates for the first time since being granted a leave of absence to return to B.C. to be with his family following the death of his father.
Petan, who was limited to one preseason game, was skating on the fifth line with
Marko Dano and Brendan Lemieux on Saturday. According to Maurice, there is no timetable for when Petan will be added to the active roster, which would require the Jets to make a move to make room for him.
“Being around the players, being in the room, being on the ice, it’s a real important piece of normalcy for him, and I’m sure he enjoyed being back,” said Maurice.
Barring a player being placed on injured reserve or being subjected to waivers once Petan returns to the active roster, forward
Brendan Lemieux is a guy who could be sent to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League to get some playing time, since he’s been a healthy scratch in four consecutive games.
PROPS FOR AHO
Laine was quick to offer praise when asked about Hurricanes centre Sebastian
Aho, his Team Finland teammate from the gold-medal winning team at the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship.
“He’s just kind of one step ahead of everybody. Before he gets the puck, he already knows what to do with it and where to put it,” said Laine. “He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with. He’s so easy to play with. He has a lot of skill, he’s quick and he can still score. He’s not just a dangler who can only pass. He’s a good shooter as well.”
Aho, chosen in the second round (35th overall) of the 2015 NHL draft, has 55 goals and 120 points in 164 NHL games to start his career.