Jets shift focus to home stand finale against Colorado

WINNIPEG - The disappointment from Wednesday's loss to the Detroit Red Wings still sits in the pit of the Winnipeg Jets' stomachs, but they know there is work to be done.
Thursday's 35-minute practice at Canada Life Centre was about preparing for the Colorado Avalanche, the next opponent on Winnipeg's three-game home stand.
"That's the nice thing about playing in this league, you get to bounce back right away. You play pretty much every other day against great teams," said Nikolaj Ehlers. "Colorado is obviously not doing too bad right now, they have a pretty good team in there. It's going to be a challenge for us."
Jets interim head coach Dave Lowry feels there is still plenty of belief among his players and his staff.
Winnipeg is seven points back of the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference - currently held by the Dallas Stars - with 11 games left in the season.
There may have been silence in the room after Wednesday's defeat, but not on the ice on Thursday.

"You can't really say a lot after a game like that. Sometimes silence resonates more," said Lowry. "There is a lot of care in that room and there is a lot of pride in that room. We know we're going to have to do things and we're going to have to be really good tomorrow."
Captain Blake Wheeler was the only member of the Jets not on the ice on Thursday. Lowry said it was a maintenance day for Wheeler, who played 18:11 and had three shots on goal against Detroit.
One of those shots was a prime opportunity - a partial breakaway snatched out of the air by Thomas Greiss - but one of his chances didn't show up on the scoresheet.

It was Wheeler's deflection that led to a goal - later disallowed on a coach's challenge - that seemed to be a bit of a turning point in the game.
It would have put the Jets up 2-1, instead the game remained tied at one.
"We were in control of a game and we were just starting to take over," said Lowry. "I thought we were starting to play the way we were going to have to play. We were starting to get pucks to the goal line, we were creating offence from getting it low to high. We had mid-zone tips, we had guys at the net, we were doing everything we wanted.
"We were playing in the right end and then they got some life, they got some opportunities, and they took advantage of it."
The loss was Winnipeg's third in a row to open the month of April, which comes after a 10-5-1 month of March.
"We're making it harder on ourselves, plain and simple. We're probably more frustrated than anything," said Paul Stastny.
"For us, sometimes it's nice having a challenge like Colorado come in. The best team in the league, so we have to play a full game both offensively and defensively."
The Jets have some video work to do before taking on the Avalanche - who have won both games against Winnipeg this season and are 8-1-1 in their last 10.

In the most recent meeting on February 25, the Jets went up 3-0 after the first period only to fall by a 6-3 final.
"We were really good in (that) first period. We gave them an opportunity, we allowed them to get some life," said Lowry. "It's going to be a cumulative effort with our group that we're going to have to pay attention to details, play on the right side of the puck, and we're going to have to really manage the puck."
Colorado's 22 road wins are tied for the second most in the NHL, but since 2017-18 the Jets have a winning record against the Avalanche in downtown Winnipeg. In six games during that span, the Jets have four wins and have outscored Colorado 22-15.
A victory on Friday night in front of the home crowd would be a big jolt through a room that was quiet just one night ago.
"We go into the game knowing we have to win," said Lowry. "You have to rely on your leadership group as well to make sure guys are ready to play. That goes on coaches. We're not going to change what we're doing, we're not going to change our preparation, and that's going to go right to the end."