Veteran Niederreiter says this year's Jets have more pilots than 'passengers'
It was just over a year ago when Nino Niederreiter made a frank assessment of the Winnipeg Jets.
The veteran forward said there were too many "passengers" on the team as it was fighting to grab the second wild-card spot for the 2023 Western Conference playoffs.
Flip the calendar to this season and there are a lot of pilots to take the controls.
"We need to have a full team going to be successful," Niederreiter said after Winnipeg's morning skate Tuesday.
"The team-first mentality and buying into our system and go from there, I think that's something we did a lot better job of this year. We're more consistent than last year -- and that's why we are where we are right now."
A group effort was required ahead of Tuesday's Game 2 as the Jets aimed to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening-round series against the Colorado Avalanche
Winnipeg hung on for a 7-6 victory in Sunday's Game 1 at Canada Life Centre.
Last season, the Jets won the first game of their opening-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights but dropped the next four and were knocked out.
Winnipeg defenceman Brenden Dillon says there's been a different vibe around the team this season.
"It's just a way better, more positive feeling than last year," he said.
The Jets snapped a six-game losing streak late in the regular season and surged with eight consecutive wins to finish the campaign.
"Between the coaches' messaging, between us as teammates' messaging, everyone was just, we know how good of a team we are, we know that we've been here before and we've got to be mature about this and stop it before it snowballs," Dillon said.
The players were dialed in ahead of Game 2.
"The mood is definitely very great in the room, but we all know we've got to be so much better than we were in Game 1," Niederreiter said.
"They kind of outplayed us for most of the game and we found the way to keep getting the lead and found a way to expose their goalie a little bit. We did a good job of it, but we all know it's going to be a whole different game."
BOOST FROM CAPTAIN
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was on the ice for Tuesday's morning skate with his teammates, but he was wearing a hoodie and sweatpants and not participating in drills
Landeskog is still recovering from cartilage replacement surgery in his right knee last May and there's no timeline for his return to action.
His presence around the team is still invaluable.
"It's just fun to have him in the room with everybody," Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon said. "He's such a great person, great leader.
"He's definitely giving us good insight. He's kind of like a coach right now."
Injuries have kept Landeskog from playing since June 2022, when Colorado won the Stanley Cup.
Speaking of that Cup victory, MacKinnon was candid about where the Avalanche are now compared to that skilful team.
"I'm not sure we'll ever be on as good of a team as we were in '22, but we're still good enough to win in this room and excited for the challenge (Tuesday) night," he said.
GOALIE SWITCH
Alexandar Georgiev was scheduled to start again for Colorado on Tuesday, backed up by Ivan Prosvetov, recalled from the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles late Monday afternoon. Goalie Arvid Holm was reassigned to the Eagles.
Colorado regular backup netminder Justus Annumen remains out with an illness.
Prosvetov got into 11 games for the Avalanche during the regular season, registering a 4-3-1 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
Avalanche defenceman Samuel Girard was listed as a game-time decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.