GAMEDAY: Jets vs Maple Leafs

WINNIPEG -He's described as the "heart and soul" of the Winnipeg Jets, and a "warrior" as a teammate and leader.
So when captain Blake Wheeler joined the team's morning skate on Friday - less than two days after leaving Wednesday's game with an undisclosed injury after the first period - it provided a bit of a boost for everyone.
Wheeler's durability is never in question. He's missed just six games since the Jets relocate to Winnipeg in 2011. Since the start of that season, only two players have played in more games than Wheeler - Phil Kessel (728) and Keith Yandle (730).
"I thought he was good in the morning skate today, said he felt good," said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. "We'll leave it until tonight, to make sure that he returns feeling the same way. If he feels the same way then he'll be a player for us."

The 34-year-old Wheeler took part in line rushes in his familiar spot, the right-wing side with Pierre-Luc Dubois in the middle and Paul Stastny on the left wing.
Jansen Harkins - who hasn't played since Feb. 19 - left the morning skate at Bell MTS Place early and would appear to be the one to slot in if Wheeler can't play in the rematch with the Maple Leafs.
Winnipeg Jets : Ground Control
·
Fly By - April 2, 2021 - WPG vs TOR
If Wheeler plays, the lines are expected to look like this:
Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers
Stastny-Dubois-Wheeler
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-DeMelo
Line-up aside, the Jets (22-13-2) want to get off to a better start in tonight's tilt with the North Division leading Maple Leafs.
Winnipeg fell behind 2-0 in the opening 20 minutes, almost adding salt to the wound of Wheeler being unavailable for the rest of the game.
"What I saw is we have to be a little more detailed in our defensive-zone coverage and sorting it out. Specifically, around our goal, identifying the low man," said Kyle Connor. "Once you do that, the other three low guys, it's man on man, you've got to find your guy."
Connor's line with Scheifele and Ehlers combined for 11 shots on goal on Wednesday, with the Michigan product and Scheifele assisting on Josh Morrissey's power play marker in the third period.
They're creating chances, but Connor thinks the trio can get even better.
"I think both those guys are so dynamic and score in so many different ways," said Connor. "If we can be smart and support each other in the defensive zone and have the puck on our stick, it's pretty beneficial for our team and all of us. That's when we thrive, Nik skating with the puck and same with Mark, so much opens up for everybody else."
The Jets would like to continue their success on the man advantage - they're third best in the NHL since the start of March at 30.2 per cent - but would also like to keep the Maple Leafs power play in its slump.
Toronto went 0-for-5 on the power play on Wednesday and hasn't scored on the man advantage in nine straight games.
"I think we've done a very good job on the penalty kill recently and we've been getting the breaks," said Mason Appleton. "Fluky goals aren't bouncing in, getting good goaltending, good reads from the forwards and defence, and it's working collectively as a unit of five including the goalie. I think that's been showing."
Appleton and his linemates will have something to say about how the game is played at five-on-five as well.
Maurice put his trio with Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp against the Auston Matthews trio as the Jets tried to mount a comeback.
That match-up could remain when the puck drops tonight.
"I felt the Lowry line, going back to three or four games before the Vancouver series, was starting to get back to the game they're really good at," said Maurice. "They can be physical, they can be defence first, and still spend time in the other team's end and be aggressive with it.
"They wouldn't just be a checking line. They would be able to score some goals. Not saying they're all going to score 30, but they will score big goals against the other team's best at some point in time and be able to shut them down."
Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal for the Jets in what will be his 300th NHL game.
Individually, Hellebuyck is 9-1-1 coming off a loss of any kind this season. The Jets, as a whole, are 11-1-1 in that scenario.
"This not being the first game back (from a road trip), we should be a better hockey team tonight," said Maurice.
Puck drop is set for 7 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Game Notes
The Winnipeg Jets continue a four-game home stand with the second of two consecutive games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Jets are 11-1-1 following a regulation loss so far this season.
Winnipeg is in a stretch of 10 of 15 home games for the Jets.
After playing 17 games in 31 days in March, the Jets are scheduled to have 15 games in 30 days in April.
Mark Scheifele is fifth in the NHL in scoring with 44 points (15G, 29A) in 37 games this season.
The Jets are the only team in the NHL with three players that have at least 15 goals: Kyle Connor (17), Nikolaj Ehlers (15), and Mark Scheifele (15).
Kyle Connor is on a four-game point streak (1G, 5A)
READ THE GAME NOTES