FROM THE PRESS BOX

MIKE SAYS: Greetings from Hockeytown, where it’s always a pleasure to cover a game. You never get old at Little Caesars Arena, where the past instantly takes you back. It really is like a museum.

A walk through the immense hall reveals numerous statues and portraits of former Red Wings stars and reminds us how accomplished this franchise is.

Then you walk into Detroit’s locker room – the best in the NHL, bar none – and truly take a trip down memory lane. Above each current player’s booth is a framed photo of a former Red Wings skater, and it’s a veritable who’s who of some of the biggest names in the sport.

The piece de resistance are five empty stands reserved for the truly greats, with nameplates and equipment as if they were really still there. Andrew Copp, for example, sits right next to Ted Lindsay. Or at least a shrine to Ted Lindsay. Between goalkeepers Alex Lyon and Cam Talbot lies Terry Sawchuk. Isn’t that cool? Nik Lidstrom, Syd Abel and Gordie Howe are the others. This should be both inspiring and, perhaps, a little intimidating for players.

Last but not least: they have the good idea to put the logo on the ceiling and not on the floor. As Copp told me in a catch-up chat this morning, it keeps players and us media from accidentally stepping on it, which is a major no-no in the wacky world of professional sports. I wish more teams would follow suit.

By the way, Copp still holds the Jets (and Winnipeg) close to his heart. He went out to dinner last night with about seven former Winnipeg teammates who he will now try to keep in check when they take the ice tonight.

Enjoy the game – and I’ll be sure to watch out for a flying octopus or two (speaking of lore) as I sit on my press box perch.

KEN SAYS: Rough outings are going to happen over the course of an 82-game schedule, that’s the nature of the beast in the NHL. It’s how you respond to those tough nights that can define a season for both a team and individual players.

The Jets are obviously looking for a collective response after being “punched in the nose” by the Maple Leafs in the first two periods, as Arniel described it in his post-game speech.

Although the Jets have shown plenty of resolve after allowing the first goal in seven of nine games, it would behoove them to spend less time chasing the game.

The Jets were outscored 19-17 at five-on-five and that’s another area they’ll look to improve.

Connor is off to a tremendous start, jumping into a tie for third in the NHL in goals (eight in nine games) and eighth in points (14). He was involved in all four goals the Jets scored in a rally against the Maple Leafs, scoring twice on the power play while collecting an assist on both six-on-five goals that were scored with the net empty in favor of an additional attacker. Connor, who has four goals with the man advantage, three at even strength and one on the penalty kill this season, has seven goals and 13 points in 12 career NHL games in his home state.

The Red Wings signed the best defender Moritz Seider and winger Lucas Raymond to long-term extensions this summer and the hope was that this would be the year the team would break through and become a playoff team under Derek Lalonde. The early returns were mixed for the team, although Raymond (eight points in nine games) and Seider (five points in nine games) did their part. Seider is a force at the back, bringing a physical element to the slick game he plays.

Patrick Kane is approaching his 36th birthday, but the Jets need to make sure they are careful when he is on the ice, as he has as many as seven points in nine games and has 18 goals (13 at even strength and five on the power play) and 50 points in 45 career games against Winnipeg, with much of that damage inflicted during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks.

PROJECTED LINES

WINNIPEG JETS

BEFORE:

• Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
• Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
• Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
• Barron-Kupari-Iafallo

DEFENSE:

• Morrissey-DeMeloSamberg-Pionk
• Stanley Miller

AIM:

• HEALTHY STRIPES: D Coghlan, D Fleury, F Gustafsson
• HURT: D Heinola (ankle), F Anderson-Dolan (foot)

DETROIT RED WINGS

BEFORE:

• DeBrincat-Larkin-Raymond
• Copp-Compher-Kane
• Tarasenko (playing time decision)-Kasper-Berggren
• Rasmussen-Veleno-Fischer

DEFENSE:

• Edvinsson-Seider
• Chiarot-Pétry
• Johansson-Holl

AIM:

• HEALTHY STRIPES: D Gustafsson
• HURT: F Motte (upper body), G Campbell (player assistance program)

NOTABLE QUOTE

Jets coach Scott Arniel on what he expects to see from his group tonight after a loss:

“I think we know how we have acted over the last two years. It’s a new year but at the same time we have good leaders. They know they weren’t very good. We just have to make sure we get back to playing the way we need to play. That’s our state of mind when we don’t have the puck. This is our competition. We’re the ones who go in and stick our noses in there, winning more one-on-one battles.

WHAT WE WORK ON

Mike is on stage in Michigan and will have two stories coming up today. The first looks Kyle Connorwho is playing tonight in his home state and on the verge of a major career milestone. Mike spoke with the Jets winger, as well as his former college teammate, JT Compherwho will line up against him tonight for the Red Wings. And he’ll have the usual analysis of the Jets vs. Wings game. You can find both pieces online at winnipegfreepress.com and in Thursday’s print edition.