LAS VEGAS — There was no stage fright or opening night jitters for Dylan Samberg and David Gustafsson, just safe, sensible hockey for a pair of players who are getting their first taste of playoff action under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
The two young Winnipeg Jets skaters spoke with the Free Press about the experience prior to suiting up for their second game on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena, looking to build off Tuesday’s 5-1 victory.
“It was everything I expected, times 10 probably,” said Gustafsson, 23, who admits to taking a few moments to soak it all in when he first hit the ice.
After the initial ‘wow’ feeling, it was all business for Dylan Samberg. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press files)
“The warm-up here in Vegas is very different. It’s kind of like you are skating inside of a night club,” he said of the glitzy pre-game festivities. “During that time, you’re just trying to focus on yourself, trying to see what’s on the ice. Don’t look up too much into the stands. It’s a little extra good feeling when you skate out for a playoff game.”
Samberg, 24, had a similar “wow” feeling as the national anthems were belted out. Once the puck dropped, it was all business.
“It was fun. We were playing the right way, which made it a lot easier to play,” said Samberg.
“Some guys came to me before the game and said this was just like any other game that you’re going to play and you just gotta go out there, there’s going to be a little bit of nerves for the first couple minutes, first couple shifts, but then you’ll settle in and just play your game.”
Samberg’s spot in the lineup was never in doubt, as he’s cemented himself as one of Winnipeg’s top six defencemen down the stretch, which has left Logan Stanley and Kyle Capobianco on the outside looking in.
Gustafsson was a question mark, having been a healthy scratch for multiple regular-season games down the stretch. An upper-body injury to Nikolaj Ehlers opened the door for him to play.
“I know, coming in, it’s not that easy when you’ve been out. I tried to make it as easy as I can,” said Gustafsson, who was on the fourth line with Kevin Stenlund and Saku Maenalanen, playing 9:38.
“As the game went on, I could play more of my game. I hope I can bring that into (Thursday), too.”
Samberg played 15:22 and was cool as a cucumber, making several nifty plays while also being on the ice for a pair of Jets goals. Winnipeg limited Vegas to just 17 shots on goal, including just two in the third period.
“We shut ‘er down and at that time, it’s what we needed to do. We need to continue doing that in this series moving forward,” said Samberg,
“I guess we’ve got to keep having good gaps and just make sure we keep them to the outside, make sure we take away their time and space. If we continue to do that, we’ll eliminate their chances.”
Samberg is expecting to see a more desperate Golden Knights squad the rest of the series.
“I think they’re going to come out a lot more intense. It’s what they’ve talked about. I think we have no problem matching their intensity,” he said.
The warm-up in Vegas was like skating inside of a night club, says David Gustafsson. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press files)
Jets coach Rick Bowness was pleased with what he saw from both players, especially how they responded to additional pressure.
“Yeah it’s playoffs, okay. So the intensity is up, okay. You still have to play your game. They both handled it very well,” said Bowness.
“You never know how they’re going to handle playoffs just because of all the noise going into the game, but they both handled it very well.”
Gustafsson is looking forward to Game 3 of the series, which will come on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out Winnipeg crows and represent another debut of sorts.
“I’ve only heard about it. I’ve never seen it. I’m really excited to see a Winnipeg White-Out coming again,” he said.
Mason Appleton’s 10th career playoff game was a memorable one.
The 27-year-old forward came within inches of opening the scoring during a wild, goal-mouth scramble in the first period, a play he still can’t believe didn’t end up in a goal.
“As I was two-touching it into the net, the guy kind of got my stick. But the puck was still travelling towards the net. And then, we all kind of fell,” is how Appleton recalled the close call.
“I saw the puck under (Vegas defenceman Brayden) McNabb, two inches off the goal line. But at the same time I had two guys sitting on top of me, so it’s not like I could poke it in. So I think it was just a dog pile in front of the net. The fact it didn’t find its way into the net was kind of nuts. But I guess it is what it is.”
That was the same play, of course, which ended with linemate Morgan Barron getting cut by the skate blade of Laurent Brossoit, resulting in 75 stitches.
Appleton initially thought he might be responsible.
“My stick had a bunch of paint on it from the post, and I thought that it was blood on my stick,” he said.
“So I was nervous for a second that I was the one who got him in the face. But once we kind of all got up, that’s when I saw the blood and I had no clue who it was that was bleeding or what had happened.”
Once he realized it was Barron, there was immediate concern for his teammate, who returned to action in the second period sporting a full cage around his damaged face.
“He’s a warrior,” said Appleton.
“It’s the NHL playoffs so that’s what separates this sport from a lot of other sports, guys are willing to play through anything to help their team win and be on the ice. In the back of my mind I knew that Bears would find a way to get back on to the ice.”
The line of Appleton, Barron and Adam Lowry is pivotal to Winnipeg’s chances, as they routinely set the tone for what is to come by bringing energy, physicality and attention to defensive detail, along with some occasional offence as illustrated by Lowry’s two goals in Game 1.
“I think when our line starts the game, we have a job to do. Our identity tends to flow through our team with how we come out of the gates,” said Appleton.
“So I think our line really got off to a good start, had some good scoring chances and we’re kind of the workhorses sometimes in that area, where we can kind of dictate how hard we work based on our play. And that can kind of be our team’s identity.”
Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg
Mike McIntyre
Sports columnist
Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.
