WINNIPEG 鈥� Head coach Rick Bowness is predicting an intensity similar to an NHL playoff-series clincher when his Winnipeg Jets host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
鈥�(Wednesday) night is probably going to be like a Game 7 for both teams,鈥� Bowness said after the Jets practised Tuesday. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the importance of the game for both teams."
Bowness says it may not be an elimination game, but the Jets will treat it like one.
"There鈥檚 still three (games) for them, four for us after, but that鈥檚 the mentality both teams will probably have going into the game.鈥�
The Jets head into the Western Conference match clinging to the second wild-card playoff spot with 89 points (43-31-3). They鈥檒l have to wait to see if Calgary (36-26-15)) moves into a tie with them if the Flames pick up two points in their home game Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
A tie in points would still give the Jets the second berth for now because they have more regulation wins than the Flames.
Wednesday鈥檚 game is Winnipeg鈥檚 annual Pride Night in support of the LGBTQ+ community and all the Jets will wear themed jerseys during pre-game warmup.
Players viewed the importance of the meeting with Calgary in the same vein as Bowness.
Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo was asked if it feels like a game of the year for the team.
鈥淔or sure. There's no doubt about it,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously, I'm sure the NHL's pretty happy with the way it lined up, schedule-wise.
鈥淭wo Canadian teams, obviously it raises the stakes a little bit. We know it's a massive game.鈥�
Jets forward Adam Lowry described it as a 鈥渉uge鈥� game.
鈥淐oming down the stretch, Calgary, Nashville, those are the two teams we鈥檙e fighting (with),鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 as close to a must-win as you鈥檒l get in the regular season.鈥�
The Predators are five points back of the Jets and host Vegas Tuesday night.
The Jets might have an advantage over the Flames because of the schedule.
Winnipeg has won its past two games with a combined 12 goals, including Sunday鈥檚 6-1 victory over New Jersey and last Friday鈥檚 6-2 win against Detroit. Both the Red Wings and Devils were coming off games the night before.
"This time of year it鈥檚 huge to have a little bit of extra rest and the ability to refocus, and each one of these games kind of feels like a playoff game for us,鈥� Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said.
听鈥淚t really is for us in terms of trying to get in (to the playoffs), so a little extra rest, sleeping at home and everything else makes a big difference.鈥�
Wednesday鈥檚 contest is the third game of Winnipeg鈥檚 five-game homestand, where they sport a 24-12-2 record at Canada Life Centre.
The back-to-back victories came after Bowness juggled lines to spark some offence. That features a top trio with Mark Scheifele on the right wing instead of at centre, Kyle Connor on the left and Pierre-Luc Dubois in the middle.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that we weren鈥檛 creating the chances, there was just no finish,鈥� Bowness said. 鈥淲e changed the lines up a little bit just to give it a different look. Now the puck is going in. As long as that keeps going, we鈥檒l keep going the way we鈥檙e going.鈥�
PLAYING FOR PRIDE
While some NHL clubs and individual players have opted out of taking part in the Pride Night warmup, Lowry said the players decided together to all wear the themed jerseys.
鈥淒iversity and inclusion are certainly important,鈥� Lowry said. 鈥淵ou want everyone, whether they are playing the game of hockey or a fan of the game of hockey, to feel comfortable being who they are, what they believe in, their sexual orientation.
鈥淚 think visibility matters. We鈥檝e come to the decision we鈥檙e going to wear it. I think that鈥檚 a positive.鈥�
The players won鈥檛 use rainbow-taped sticks in warmup because a team spokesperson said some only use one stick, but they鈥檒l tape sticks later to be auctioned off in June with the themed jerseys in support of programs in the LGBTQ+ community.
鈥淚鈥檝e got friends that are in the community so, for me, it鈥檚 really important,鈥� DeMelo said. 鈥淚 know the struggles they鈥檝e been through and to make it inclusive for everybody it鈥檚 very important for me, so I鈥檓 really happy that we鈥檙e doing it.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a top-class organization here and I think the fans are going to enjoy it. Everybody鈥檚 going to have a good night.鈥�
听
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2023.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
