Maurice arranges happy homecoming for Roslovic, big night for Comrie in NHL debuts

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This article was published 05/04/2017 (3404 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Goaltender Eric Comrie and forward Jack Roslovic will make their NHL debuts with the Winnipeg Jets here Thursday night.

Comrie, 21, called up from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League Wednesday, will be between the pipes when the Jets battle the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena (6 p.m., TSN3, TSN 1290)

Columbus-born Roslovic, who has had a stellar rookie season as a 20-year-old with the Moose, grew up a Blue Jackets fan and will suit up against coach John Tortorella’s crew at the downtown rink just a five-minute drive from the Roslovic family home.

“Really excited, and being home makes that even better. Obviously, my NHL debut, it’s gonna be fun,” said Roslovic, a 2015 first-round pick (25th overall) of the Jets, who signed an entry-level deal with Winnipeg after just one year at Miami University (Ohio).

He has 13 goals and 32 assists in 61 games with the Moose.

It was expected that Roslovic — promoted along with Kyle Connor on Monday — would play his first-ever NHL contest in his own backyard. But he received the official word from head coach Paul Maurice during Wednesday’s afternoon practice.

“Paul just said, ‘You’re in.’ From there, it was just kind of a great feeling,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome. The stars kind of aligned, I guess. It’s gonna be fun.”

Comrie, a former junior star with Tri-Cities of the Western Hockey League and a Jets’ second-round pick (59th overall) in 2013, has already played 99 games in the AHL.

His 100th pro game will be his most memorable, by far.

“It’s a pretty exciting time for myself and my family,” said Comrie, who is 17-25-2 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .906 save percentage with two shutouts in 47 AHL games this season. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and I’m just excited to get going. I’ve got some family coming in, so I’m really pumped up and looking to get my feet wet.”

Comrie, who stopped 35 shots in Manitoba’s 3-1 triumph over Grand Rapids at the MTS Centre Tuesdays, said his focus was on a strong finish with the Moose, not on a possible promotion.

“I really wasn’t (paying) too much attention to it. I was watching the games and I know (Michael Hutchinson and Connor Hellebuyck) are playing really well, the team is playing well right now,” said Comrie. “For myself, I was just focusing on staying down there, getting better and trying to do the best I could for the Moose.

“It’s been the same thing as last year. I was very fortunate to play a lot of games. (Thursday) will be my 100th pro game, which will be my first NHL game. It’s exciting and kind of cool at the same time. Every single day is a new experience and you just get as much experience under your belt as you can.”

The Jets (38-35-7) won their fifth straight in St. Louis Tuesday, knocking off the Blues 5-2. Rookie winger Patrik Laine led the way with his 35th and 36th goals of the season, the second coming on a blistering one-timer from the slot off a pass from Mathieu Perreault.

Winnipeg battles the playoff-bound Blue Jackets (49-22-8), currently third in the Metropolitan Division, and then head home to end the season Saturday against the Nashville Predators.

Maurice said Comrie has earned Thursday’s start with the big club.

“He’s had two really good years, battled hard and played big minutes,” Maurice said. “So the next time Eric gets into a game (after Thursday’s debut), it won’t be his first. He’s a guy that at his size, he needs to play a few years pro to get the feel of the game.

“Excellent low coverage, real good positioning in the net and we’ve known all along — it’s not something that we’ve learned — that he’s as high a character a person as we have in the organization. With his compete level and positive attitude, there should be a payoff for doing all the right things all of the time. But you have to play well, and he’s played well.”

Jets’ blueliners Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Stuart all missed practice but will be good to go against Columbus.

Tyler Myers, who has missed 63 games with a lower-body injury, took in a full workout and said afterward there’s a chance he could return before the curtain comes down on the season.

“(I’m) starting to move a little bit better. I said it about a week ago but it’s gonna be pretty close. I would love to jump in for the last one,” he said. “Most likely it won’t be (Thursday). If I’m ready to go, just for the mental side of things, it’d be great to get one in. But obviously I don’t want to come back if I’m not ready.

“It’s been tough watching, but the guys have played well, played hard. They’re on a good streak right now and it’s good to see.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

@WFPJasonBell