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Home , Connor Carrick, Curtis McElhinney, Defenceman, Kevin Cheveldayoff, Logan Stanley, Nashville Predators

Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/never-too-soon-to-ponder-jets-plans-478500563.html

Future not Chevy's concern now GM will have his plate full this summer, but it's all about the playoffs for time being

By: Jason Bell

OTTAWA — Now is really not the time to ask about his lengthy to-do list and what takes precedence.

The Jets will, indeed, have his hands full as about a dozen regulars become either unrestricted or restricted free agents following the 2017-18 NHL season.

All-star goalie , and Josh Morrissey and Adam Lowry head the list of restricted free agency who will command raises, while decisions need to be made on UFAs and Toby Enstrom.

Does , a UFA in the summer of ’19, get re-upped sooner rather than later? Does , in Year 2 of a three-year entry-level deal, get inked to a long-term, multi-million-dollar extension this summer, ala Connor McDavid in ?

All boxes will be checked off at another time, Cheveldayoff maintains.

"Yeah, we have to win Game 1 of the playoffs, that’s our priority," he said, in a phone chat Sunday. "Everything else is really secondary."

While Jets players enjoyed a day away from the rink, Cheveldayoff took a side trip to Guelph, Ont., to watch blue- prospect Logan Stanley perform with the , who are locked in an Hockey League playoff battle with the .

"For me, with the business of hockey there’s a time and a place. The business takes care of itself. Everyone’s focus right now is on the here and now, and that’s where it should be."

The Jets have secured a berth in the NHL post-season for just the second time in seven years since the franchise relocated north from Atlanta. Three years ago, the swept the Jets in an opening-round series.

That squad barely squeezed into the chase, while the current rendition has 106 points with four games left in the regular season, occupies second spot in the highly competitive Central Division and is third in the Western Conference.

Winnipeg trails four teams, the , , and , in the overall standings.

Some will say it’s taken far too long to build a contender, while others will point to the Jets’ roster — led in many respects by athletes not even in their mid-20s — and note the club’s development is actually ahead of schedule.

That’s not how Cheveldayoff views things.

"They’re on their own schedule. There isn’t a chart on my wall or anything in a manual that says this is schedule that a certain player goes on, whether you’re a veteran or a first-year player," he said. "Every professional athlete has to find what makes them go, and what makes them go consistently, because that’s the essence of the game that they’re in, which is competing at a high level all the time.

"With our group, we’ve earned the right (to be in the playoffs) and they’re going to cut their teeth together. Ultimately, when we took over the team and started this process, our guiding principle was that his group was going to grow together."

Cheveldayoff and head coach were both given multi-year contract extensions prior to the start of the season. Neither the length of the contracts nor financial terms were released.

The Jets GM was convinced then Maurice was the best man for the job, and the team’s success has given credence to that position.

"The thing for me is Paul’s ability to communicate with and understand today’s player, whether it’s the relationships he has with Wheeler or (Dustin) Byfuglien or (Bryan) Little, or the opportunities that get presented in front of him to play an 18-year-old like last year in Patrik Laine," said Cheveldayoff. "There’s not a lot of coaches out there that are able to do both things, appeal to the veteran guys but also have the courage and the belief in himself to go out and play young guys and to help them grow."

Cheveldayoff’s bold -deadline deal to acquire Stastny from the St. Louis Blues cost the club a first-round pick in this summer’s draft in . So, because of their lofty standing the Jets likely won’t select until late in the second round.

"Hopefully, it’s 62nd," he said, a witty reference to what transpires if his team claims the Stanley Cup.

He said a late draft position doesn’t alter how they go about the business of scouting.

"Our list will still be done in the same fashion. You never know what comes in front of you between now and then, so you don’t slough it off. I have a lot of faith in our scouting department," said Cheveldayoff. "When we made the trade, one of the first texts I got was from Mark Hillier, head of our amateur scouting, He said, ‘We’ll find someone great in the second and third.’ That’s the level of excitement within the organization we’re at, where everyone felt comfortable to make that acquisition."

Cheveldayoff said he’s sensing the playoff buzz around the city.

"This is Winnipeg’s team. They’ve watched us now for years, they’ve seen us draft players, they’ve seen us trade for players, sign players. They’ve seen the product come together," he said.

The True North ownership group is pushing the ‘Whiteout’ in its playoff marketing, and has adopted a ‘We are Winnipeg’ phrase to pump up the Central Division squad’s post-season fortunes.

"I do think whoever came up with the phrase ‘We are Winnipeg’ got it right, It really is Winnipeg’s team," said Cheveldayoff. "It’s something we hope can be a sense of pride, not only for the next couple of months but something that can be built upon." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/may-be-time-to-shake-up-some-line- combos-478500543.html

May be time to shake up some line combos Lack of points for some Jets could be reason to move players around

By: Jason Bell

OTTAWA — Odd timing, indeed, but should Paul Maurice be pulling out his trusty line mixer- upper machine?

The just registered one of their most thorough victories of the season Saturday night in Toronto, scoring three times in the second period en route to a 3-1 decision over the Maple Leafs. Physical, defensively tidy and offensively opportunistic, the Jets emerged from a scoreless first period — 10 shots a side — to dictate much of the play through the final 40 minutes.

Trailing 1-0 on an early second-period power-play from ageless Patrick Marleau, Winnipeg pulled even and then ahead on goals by a pair of blue-liners, Josh Morrissey and , at 8:30 and 9:40. Then, hard-checking but light-scoring Andrew Copp, goalless in his last 19 games, chipped in his sixth of the year before the horn sounded to end the middle frame.

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck blocked 10 shots in the third period to solidify the win, as Winnipeg improved to 1-1 on a four-game road swing. The Jets (48-20-10) are assured at least a second- place finish in the Central Division, with a faint hope of chasing down the Nashville Predators (50-17-11).

All in all, a fine bit of redemption on two fronts. Not only did the Jets execute a resolute about- face after Thursday’s 6-2 debacle in — a win sure to live on in Blackhawks history when the hosts were forced to put their trust in emergency goalie Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant, to bring it home — they also dished out some payback to the Leafs for ruining the season-opener in downtown Winnipeg with a 7-2 thumping, albeit six months ago.

Winnipeg has won seven of its past eight games, and is 11-3-1 in its past 15. The Jets face the (27-40-11) tonight. Game time is 6:30 p.m. (CDT).

But the squad has been doing its thing lately without a balanced attack.

What’s up with the Paul Stastny-centred second line, featuring flashy youngsters Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers? While the trio had its best night in two weeks in Toronto — Stastny and Ehlers each had an assist, and Laine had a couple of grade-A scoring chances — they’d been quiet for the previous five.

Laine has gone six games without a goal, his second-longest stretch of the 2017-18 season and is stuck on 43 goals, still just two back of NHL leader Alex Ovechkin of the . Sizzling Vegas scorer William Karlsson (42), powerful Pittsburgh centre Evgeni Malkin (42) and Edmonton phenom Connor McDavid (41) are all closing fast.

Maurice was asked point-blank by a Finnish reporter following the triumph over the Leafs if the teen’s current slump is a major cause for concern with the post-season just around the bend.

"Not even a tiny bit. That game, (the line) played well. They had chances, they had shots. They supported the puck. They had more pucks to the front of the net in the first 10 minutes than maybe they had in the last three or four (games)," Maurice said. "I don’t worry even a little bit about it."

As a followup, the gentleman wanted to know what steps the club was taking to bolster Laine’s chance to win the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer.

"We didn’t help Patty score the first 43. He’s on his own," Maurice said.

Let’s assume then, the Stastny trio remains intact. However, the same cannot be said for the third unit.

A dearth of point production from Bryan Little’s line is even more confounding. While the veteran centre has scored in two of Winnipeg’s past four games, left- has one measly assist in 19. This is the same guy who had 16 goals and 21 assists in 38 games prior to hitting the skids the third week of February.

On the right side, Joel Armia has a pair of goals and three assists in his last 15, but continues to struggle with his consistency.

Rookie winger Jack Roslovic fired his fourth goal of the year and chipped in his eighth assist in Winnipeg’s 6-2 home-ice win over Chicago on March 15, but has been a healthy scratch since, watching seven straight from the press box.

Maurice hinted the 21-year-old rookie from Columbus will be inserted into the lineup on the trip, possibly as early as tonight against the Senators. The Jets also play Tuesday in Montreal against the Canadiens.

Expect goalie Steve Mason to start one of the next two contests. He’s back with the team after being sidelined for a dozen games with a knee injury.

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Mike Babcock sees a lot of similarities between his rip-roaring young Toronto team, led by brilliant centre , and the high-flying Jets.

During a chat with reporters Saturday morning, the Leafs bench boss had some complimentary things to say about Winnipeg’s deep, skilled roster and the man responsible for constructing it.

"We don’t see them very much. They’re obviously an elite team. They’re fun to watch, they can play fast. They’ve got good depth up front and will have more depth on the back when they get their people back," Babcock said. "They’ve had a fantastic year to date, and they’re probably as excited to get going at playoff time as we are.

"The guy in Winnipeg that you never hear about, (Kevin Cheveldayoff), the GM, has done an unbelievable job. He was a serial winner in (the minor leagues), and everywhere he went, he’s won. He’s built a good program (in Winnipeg) and, obviously, they have lots of good players.

"We feel we’re going in the right direction, too, and only time’s going to tell for both of us."

The Leafs and Jets represent the nation’s only hopes this season for the Stanley Cup’s long- awaited return north of the Canada-U.S. border.

The won it a quarter-century ago.

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Sami Niku is getting a promotion. The slick-skating left-shooting defenceman has been called up by Winnipeg.

Niku, 6-0, 170 pounds, is having a sensational debut season in North America, scoring 15 goals and adding 37 assists in 71 games for the Jets’ AHL affiliate. The product of Haapavesi, Finland, is tied for the lead in points by a defenceman, and tied for second in goals by a blue-liner. The Jets selected him in the seventh round (198th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

There was no media availability as Winnipeg had Easter Sunday off, so any plans to dress the 21-year-old for his first NHL contest will be announced by Maurice today.

Winnipeg Sun http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/cheveldayoff-not-celebrating-yet-jets- gm-realizes-the-next-step-is-even-tougher

Cheveldayoff not celebrating yet: Jets GM realizes the next step is even tougher

By Ken Wiebe

OTTAWA – Sense of relief?

Sure.

Source of pride?

Absolutely.

But if you think Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is jumping for joy after simply returning to the , think again.

Of course, Cheveldayoff is happy to see his team back in the post-season after missing out in each of the previous two springs. But the real work is just beginning for a franchise that is still searching for its first playoff game victory, let alone its first series win.

“Everyone talks about the excitement of the playoffs and the opportunity. It’s why you play the game – to win the Stanley Cup,” Cheveldayoff said in a telephone interview on Sunday. “You need to punch your ticket to get to the next season here. (The regular season) is a grind. It’s 82 games, the ups and the downs, the injuries, all that goes into it, it’s a difficult thing to get to.

“For the lucky ones that do, it should be relished.”

The Jets (48-20-10) continue a four-game road trip on Monday against the Ottawa Senators.

Unlike the previous playoff appearance in 2015, when the Jets got into the post-season on the second-to-last game and were the eighth seed in the Western Conference, the expectations are higher on this group.

Not that the Jets were in that happy-to-be-there category when they were swept by the Anaheim Ducks, but they basically emptied the tank just to get in. That’s not the case this time.

“The players that have been around for a while and certainly the young players now know how hard it is to get to this point,” said Cheveldayoff. “The excitement level will certainly ramp up when the puck does drop here. Whether you’re the Presidents’ Trophy winner or squeak in by a point, you have that same opportunity to continue playing.”

But the Jets placed higher expectations on themselves before training camp even started and they’ve dealt with them by focusing on the day ahead, as cliché as that sounds.

Given that they remain among the top teams in the NHL – they’re currently fifth in points with 106 – it’s clear the approach is serving them well. And when the playoffs begin next week, the Jets won’t need to alter that approach one bit.

Success in the post-season doesn’t usually happen without having to overcome adversity and the Jets have ample experience on that front, as they’ve accumulated nearly 300 man-games lost due to injury.

Many of those injuries were of the long-term variety and were to some of the main drivers on the Jets, including and Jacob Trouba.

“There have been opportunities for players to play different roles or to get into the lineup. You have to embrace it and live in that moment,” said Cheveldayoff. “That’s certainly something that will continue to be a model (for the Jets) moving .”

Consistency has been a hallmark for the Jets, who have endured only two three-game losing streaks all season (and in both cases that third game included a point earned by getting to extra time).

Cheveldayoff made one of the biggest trades prior to the NHL trade deadline, acquiring Paul Stastny from the St. Louis Blues and he also picked up defenceman as an insurance policy, which turned out handy when Toby Enstrom and Dmitry Kulikov were sidelined.

“About a month before the deadline, when we began to crystallize what we might need,” said Cheveldayoff. “Both players have fit in seamlessly.”

Goaltending has also been a big part of the Jets’ turnaround and Connor Hellebuyck did more than just accept the challenge after Steve Mason was signed to a two-year deal this past summer.

Mason started the first two games, but Hellebuyck wrestled the starting job away and is currently second in the NHL with 41 wins and in the discussion as a candidate.

Captain Blake Wheeler has done an excellent job setting the tone and he leads the NHL in assists, while second-year winger Patrik Laine remains second in the NHL in goals.

The Jets are a four-line hockey team and the organizational depth has been evident when called upon.

There were some folks wondering aloud why Cheveldayoff gave Jets head coach Paul Maurice a multi-year contract extension last summer after missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

The reason was simple: Cheveldayoff believed Maurice was the right guy to lead a group he felt was on the rise.

“For me, that was a decision that was logical to make. I’m very happy to have done it then and even happier now,” said Cheveldayoff. “What shouldn’t go unappreciated here is the job the coaching staff has done, with getting all of these players on the same page.”

Cheveldayoff deserves his share of the credit as well and he received a compliment from head coach on Saturday during his media session.

“The guy in Winnipeg, the guy you never hear about (Cheveldayoff), the GM has done an unbelievable job,” said Babcock. “He was a winner when he was in the (International Hockey League) and everywhere he went, he’s won. He’s built a program there and (the Jets) have got lots of good players and obviously, we feel like we’re going in the right direction, too.

“But only time is going to tell for both of us.” http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/jets-set-to-give-promising-d-man- opportunity

Jets set to give promising d-man opportunity

By Ken Wiebe

Ottawa – Sami Niku is set to make his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets on Monday against the Ottawa Senators.

The mobile defenceman is having an outstanding rookie season with the Manitoba Moose and was recalled by the Jets on Sunday.

With four games left in the regular season and the Jets assured of home-ice advantage, it’s expected that several blue-liners will get a rest this week, allowing guys like Niku and Tucker Poolman to get into the lineup.

Niku, 21, was chosen in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft, has 15 goals and 52 points in 71 games with the Moose.

Niku is known for his skating ability and offensive awareness and he’s adjusted well to the North American game after coming over from Finland.

Niku went into Sunday’s action tied for the AHL lead in points by a defenceman and second in goals by a blue-liner.

The Jets (48-20-10) are coming off a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and close out this four-game road trip with games against the Senators on Monday and the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/five-keys-jets-vs-senators

FIVE KEYS: Jets vs Senators

By Ken Wiebe

Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators

6:30 pm CT, Canadian Tire Centre. TV: TSN3. Radio: TSN 1290

THE BIG MATCHUP

Jacob Trouba vs The Jets blue-liner made an impactful return after missing five games with a concussion, playing nearly 23 minutes and chipping in an assist on Saturday. He’ll be tasked with trying to help shut down Senators forward Matt Duchene, who has 20 goals and 44 points in 64 games since the three-way blockbuster trade. Duchene has a history of success against the Jets from his time with the , recording 11 goals and 24 points in 26 games.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Stay crisp The Jets are entering a stretch of four games against non-playoff teams to close out the regular season, which means they’ll be looking to remain sharp against clubs that are playing a bit more carefree. The Jets remember what it’s like to be among the teams eliminated early and last year reeled off a seven-game winning streak to end the campaign. This final stretch of games for the Jets is all about maintaining good habits and playing with pace.

O from the D The Jets got the tying (Josh Morrissey) and game-winning (Dustin Byfuglien) goals in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs from the back end. The nine blue-liners that have suited up for the Jets this season have combined for 30 goals. As for Byfuglien, he’s eclipsed 40 points for the fifth consecutive season and seventh time in his NHL career.

Breaking the drought After watching Andrew Copp snap a 19-game scoring drought on Saturday, the Jets forward that has gone the longest without finding the back of the net is Mathieu Perreault. The versatile forward has 16 goals this season, but hasn’t had a goal since scoring on Feb. 18 against the , a span of 19 games. There’s more to Perreault’s game than offence, but he’s counted on for his ability to find secondary scoring and has seven goals and nine points in 17 career games against the Senators.

Far from Stone Cold Winnipegger has continued his growth as a player, as the former captain leads the Senators with 20 goals (including 11 on the power play, one shorthanded and three game-winners) and 62 points in 58 games this season. Stone is two points off his career high, set in 2014-15, despite missing considerable time due to injury.

Still producing Although Senators defenceman got off to a slow start by his own standards after having surgery in the off-season, he’s worked his way back to being one of the top producers on the blue line in the NHL with nine goals and 59 points in 70 games. Karlsson has recently been playing alongside rookie D-man Thomas Chabot and can still have a huge impact on the outcome of games.

The Hockey News http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/final-four-a-pre-playoff-peak-at-the-bruins-lightning- predators-and-jets

FAB FOUR: A PRE-PLAYOFF PEEK AT THE BRUINS, LIGHTNING, PREDATORS AND JETS

By: Sam McCaig Mar 30, 2018

Boston and Tampa Bay in the East, Nashville and Winnipeg in the West. They've emerged as the NHL's best teams this season. With the fast-approaching playoffs in mind, here's a look at how they stack up in 10 key categories.

In alphabetical order, the Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets have been the best teams in the NHL this season. And we say that will all due respect to the incredible expansion Vegas Golden Knights, as well as the , Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals, not to mention the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion .

Any one of the above teams could go on to win the Cup this season, as could any of the 16 clubs that make the playoffs when the regular season ends next weekend.

But, as mentioned, the Bruins, Predators, Lightning and Jets have been the class of the league – at least that's the opinion in this corner – and as such, they merit closer scrutiny as the post- season approaches. Since they're divisional rivals – Boston and Tampa Bay in the Atlantic, Nashville and Winnipeg in the Central – the best they can do is face off in respective Round 2 showdowns. But make no mistake, those second-round series should be viewed as the league's semifinals, with the winning sides ready to roll through Round 3 on their way to the Cup series.

With that in mind, here's a look at 10 key categories, and how the predestined Bruins, Preds, Bolts and Jets stack up.

(Note: Stats as of games played on March 30, 2018.)

Goals Per Game Tampa Bay Lightning: 3.49 (1st) Boston Bruins: 3.29 (t-3rd) Winnipeg Jets: 3.29 (t-3rd) Nashville Predators: 3.17 (7th)

No big surprises here. They're the best teams in the NHL and they score like it. The Lightning lead the league in offense, the Bruins and Jets reside in the top five and the Predators sit comfortably in the top 10.

Goals-Against Average Nashville Predators: 2.41 (1st) Boston Bruins: 2.51 (3rd) Winnipeg Jets: 2.62 (6th) Tampa Bay Lightning: 2.81 (13th)

Pekka Rinne's case for the Vezina Trophy looks pretty compelling from this vantage point, given that he backstops the team with the league's lowest GAA compared to 's leakier Lightning.

Power Play Tampa Bay Lightning: 24.7% (2nd) Winnipeg Jets: 23.3% (4th) Boston Bruins: 22.9% (5th) Nashville Predators: 20.0% (t-17th)

A high-end power play can take you a long way in the playoffs, and the Lightning, Jets and Bruins check off this box with top-five PP units. The Preds, meanwhile, are barely middle of the pack, but it's worth noting that their 20-percent rate is still quite productive, and Nashville ranks among the NHL's top three in man-advantage chances. As a result, the Predators are tied for sixth in the league with 52 power play goals.

Penalty Killing Nashville Predators: 82.7% (t-6th) Boston Bruins: 82.6% (8th) Winnipeg Jets: 82.1% (t-9th) Tampa Bay Lightning: 75.9% (26th)

It's a bit of a surprise that none of these so-called top teams have elite killing, but at least the Predators, Bruins and Jets can get the job done. The Lightning, meanwhile, have struggled mightily on the PK, giving up the second-most goals (62) this season. That'll need to change for Tampa Bay to have any success in the post-season.

Hits Boston Bruins: 1,808 (8th) Winnipeg Jets: 1,730 (13th) Tampa Bay Lightning: 1,613 (19th) Nashville Predators: 1,565 (23rd)

You don't want to rank too high in hits because it likely means that your opponents always have the puck, and you're chasing the game instead of directing it. So, through that lens, our Cup contenders are right around where you want them – not real high, which is good, but high enough so that you know they can play it physical when the going gets tough in the playoffs.

Blocked Shots Winnipeg Jets: 1,169 (10th) Nashville Predators: 1,137 (16th) Tampa Bay Lightning: 1,063 (26th) Boston Bruins: 1,012 (30th)

Like hits, you don't want to be one of the league leaders in blocked shots because it means the other teams are always firing away and you're getting walloped by 100-mile-an-hour vulcanized rubber. On the flip side, hey, it's the playoffs, you've got to be willing to take one for the team. The Jets are the most altruistic in that regard, while the Bruins, surprisingly, are the most likely to pull the old flamingo.

Faceoff Winning Percentage Nashville Predators: 53.0% (3rd) Winnipeg Jets: 52.4% (5th) Boston Bruins: 50.6% (t-11th) Tampa Bay Lightning: 48.0% (27th)

Nashville and Winnipeg are plenty capable in the dot, and Boston has , so they're fine, too. Tampa Bay, though, is one of the NHL's weakest teams in the faceoff circle. It's not a fatal flaw, but it's another strike against the Lightning. (That's the worst pun in the blog. Promise.)

Winning Percentage When Trailing After Second Period Tampa Bay Lightning: .296 (1st) Boston Bruins: .240 (3rd) Nashville Predators: .217 (5th) Winnipeg Jets: .136 (t-18th)

A team's ability to rally from a late deficit and emerge with a win is a requisite trait for Cup contenders. As you can see by the winning percentages above, nobody in the league has truly mastered the art of the comeback, but the Lightning are No. 1 and they're joined in the top five by the Bruins and Predators. The Jets, meanwhile, haven't been as successful in digging themselves out of a hole, winning only three of 22 games in which they trailed entering the third period.

Winning Percentage When Scoring First Tampa Bay Lightning: .829 (1st) Nashville Predators: .792 (7th) Boston Bruins: .784 (8th) Winnipeg Jets: .767 (10th)

Good teams score first and hold on to the lead en route to victory. Everybody passes this test, especially the Lightning who have proven lethal when they open the scoring.

Winning Percentage When Opponent Scores First Boston Bruins: .487 (1st) Tampa Bay Lightning: .472 (2nd) Nashville Predators: .414 (6th) Winnipeg Jets: .412 (t-7th)

Good teams come back when their opponent scores first, and retake the lead en route to victory. It's not as easy to do, of course, but everybody passes this test, too, with the nearly .500 Bruins and Lightning the most impressive.

Globe and Mail https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-and-jets-take-different-routes-to-playoff- readiness/article38354658/

Leafs and Jets take different routes to playoff readiness

By David Shoalts

Canada's only representatives in the NHL playoffs squared off as the regular season winds down, but no easy conclusions could be drawn about their chances.

The Winnipeg Jets, who will finish second in the Western Conference's Central Division, ground out a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday by using their size and speed. But the Leafs could argue their own celebrated speed and skill was blunted by playing a road game the night before and, besides, the game had no effect on either team's place in the league standings.

Like the Jets, the Leafs' regular-season finish has been known for weeks. Despite a franchise- record 47 wins so far, the Leafs will remain third in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They will open the NHL playoffs on the road against either the Boston Bruins or the Tampa Bay Lightning, as those two teams will fight for first place in the division and the right to play the second wild-card finisher rather than the Maple Leafs.

Barring a miracle run by the St. Louis Blues, four points behind the second-place with four games to play for both teams, the Jets are destined to meet the Wild at home to start the postseason. Both the Leafs and the Jets will use the last week of the regular season to make sure their key players get some rest before the playoff grind.

The Leafs do have one injury problem, as promising rookie defenceman Travis Dermott left Saturday's game after he was hit on the right foot by a Jets from the point. The exact nature of the injury is unclear, as Dermott actually favoured his left leg as he limped off the ice.

Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said he will not make any immediate decisions about replacing Dermott.

"We have [defence], we'll take a look at it," Babcock said after the game. "I don't know if he is out for a bit, I don't know anything about it to be honest with you.

"He had X-rays and there was nothing and he'll have whatever scans they do next and see how he's feeling [Sunday]. We'll make a decision on it."

However, the Leafs had Sunday off and more information on Dermott's injury will not be available until Monday, when the Leafs play the . If Dermott cannot play Monday, Connor Carrick is the likely replacement for him and the Leafs may call up one of Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen or Martin Marincin from their farm team as insurance.

Even though Dermott, 21, is a rookie, losing him for even a short while in the playoffs is not a pleasant prospect. After he was promoted in January, Dermott proved to be a big upgrade on the defence, which was the Leafs' weakest unit at the time. His speed, skill and confidence in handling the puck under pressure give the Leafs mobility and puck-movement on all three pairs when everyone is healthy.

Rest will be the priority for at least some players this week as the Leafs finish with three games, the latter two coming Thursday in New Jersey against the Devils with the regular-season finale at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. was the only player identified as getting a sure night off, which means a rare second consecutive start on Monday for backup Curtis McElhinney. Other candidates for at least one game off are veterans Patrick Marleau, 38, and , 37.

"I know [McElhinney] is starting again the next game and then what we'll do is get [Andersen] a couple going in," Babcock said. "We haven't talked about the rest of the crew."

Babcock may not give out any more nights off aside from the above trio, as his young charges will probably get four days off when the regular season ends on Saturday for them. The Leafs' playoff series is not likely to begin before Thursday, April 12.

"These games are important for us because the reality is we're probably not starting until Thursday after we finish," Babcock said. "There's lots of time to hang around. We've got lots of that, so let's keep playing hard."

Rest will get a little more focus with the Jets, as they have back-to-back home games on Monday and Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators and the Canadiens, respectively. They finish up on the road against the Flames and on Thursday and Saturday.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice was just happy his team showed its true colours against the Leafs after a sloppy loss to the Blackhawks last Thursday. It was reassuring that once again the players corrected themselves rather than letting the poor play linger.

"We were much better than we were [against Chicago], so we corrected the things we needed to," Maurice said. "It was a out there. I thought we built as the game went on, got better.”