Toffoli, Miller ready for Jets debut as Washington pays a visit
Winnipeg’s newest Jets have arrived and are ready for game action.
Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller – who were acquired from the New Jersey Devils before the NHL trade deadline – touched down in Winnipeg Sunday and will suit up for their new team Monday night.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate being able to kind of gone through this before and know the nerves and butterflies are going to be there,” said Toffoli following the morning skate on Monday. “But at the same time, it’s exciting and the team is awesome. Like I said, I’ve felt like I fit in really well so far. Just excited to come here tonight and play the game.”
“It’s always fun playing here,” said Miller. “Obviously, in the playoffs, it’s another level. So I look forward to being on the other side of it tonight.”
Toffoli is expected to slot in on the second line next to Sean Monahan and Alex Iafallo – two players he has played with before in his NHL career – while Miller is expected to play on the third pair next to Dylan Samberg.
Both were also getting some work on the power play – Toffoli on the top line and Miller rotating on the second unit.
“I’ve been there all year. I’ve been there kind of throughout my career too,” said Toffoli. “Obviously, some really skilled players there and [I’m] just trying to fit in and make all the plays that I normally do on the power play and not really change too much.”
Head coach Rick Bowness said both players should fit in nicely into the lineup, even with their limited time spent with the team.
“They know how to play the game. There’s not that many different systems in the NHL. They’ll know quickly that we play a pressure game. So again, they’re veterans, they know how to play the game. They understand the league and what you can and can’t get away with, regardless of the system. So we’re very comfortable throwing them right out there,” said Bowness.
The new acquisitions couldn’t arrive at a better time for the Jets as they are coming off a 5-0 beat down at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
After the game, Bowness called it the worst game he has been part of since arriving in Winnipeg.
On Monday, he addressed those comments and said he knows his team will bounce back from this.
“I was more upset at myself than I was at the players. So that’s easy to overcome. Yeah, we’ll respond. This is a good group, we’re a good team, we’re having a good year and I have full faith that they’re going to respond.”
The Washington Capitals are in Winnipeg on Monday. The team is currently on the outside looking in regarding the playoff picture. They are sitting with 69 points, three points back of the last wild card spot.
“They’re right there. They’re knocking on the door and they had a big game there last game,” Bowness said. “They’re scoring goals and a desperate hungry hockey team…Every game from here on out is going to get tougher and tougher. So just be ready to respond.”
The game gets underway at 6:30 p.m. CT, with Connor Hellebuyck getting the start in net for the Jets.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.