Roslovic, home town celebrating Columbus Day holiday early this year

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This article was published 06/04/2017 (3413 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jack Roslovic is sticking to his normal game-day routine, even though there’s nothing normal about today.

The 20-year-old centre becomes the first born-and-raised Columbus kid to play in an NHL contest tonight when the Winnipeg Jets face the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena (6 p.m., TSN3, TSN 1290)

He skated between wingers Chris Thorburn and Brandon Tanev this morning on the club’s fourth line.

Roslovic said he’s tried to maintain and even-keel approach to his NHL debut since head coach Paul Maurice gave him the good news Wednesday.

“Just go about your day the way you normally would (though) obviously not as normal as a regular day, but try to take it as normally as possible,” said Roslovic, promoted from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL on Monday.

“Soak it all in, that’s what Paul said. Anything from the anthem to the warmups to the first puck drop, just soak it all in and have a good time with it.”

Roslovic, a 2015 first-round pick (25th overall) of the Jets, signed an entry-level deal with the club after just one year at Miami University (Ohio). He has 13 goals and 32 assists in 61 games with the Moose.

He’ll have as many as 60 family members and friends cheering him on at the game.

And in other debut news… goaltender Eric Comrie, called up by the Moose Wednesday, will make his first NHL appearance tonight as the Jets try to extend a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

“It feels good, I’m excited. I’m just gonna go out there and have fun and enjoy the moment and everything about the game,” said the 21-year-old from Edmonton, who has tickets saved for his parents and a few other family members.

“It’s always nice to play in front of friends and family. Only about eight tickets I have tonight, so not as many as Jack Roslovic, but still quite a bit,” he added loud enough for the home-town boy to hear.

After Columbus (49-22-8), currently third in the Metropolitan Division, the Jets head home for Saturday’s season-ending date with the Nashville Predators. The Blue Jackets, on their longest winless skid (0-3-1) of the season, already know they’ll face the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the first-round of the playoffs.

Comrie said he’s hoping to get a feel for the puck early on.

“I can’t control (getting early shots) but it’d be nice,” said the Jets’ second-round pick (59th overall) in 2013, who will mark his 100th pro game with his first NHL start.

“I might not get a shot till the second period for all I know. You never know, as a goalie. It’s about going out there and doing what you have to do to try and get two points for the team.”

Comrie is 17-25-2 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .906 save percentage and has recorded two shutouts in 47 games with Manitoba this season.

Maurice indicated things were unfolding as they should for Comrie and Roslovic.

“(They’re) both real likable guys and you can see there’s the right amount of nervousness and excitement in their body language on the ice,” he said.

Centre Nic Petan comes out of the lineup and Marko Dano and Kyle Connor are also healthy scratches.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell