Pionk, Jets ready for test of resiliency in Game 4

WINNIPEG - Dylan Samberg was still wearing the emotions of the double overtime Game 3 defeat on his face on Sunday, as he detailed the play that led to Michael Amadio's goal.

"I tried to make a play up the wall and it didn't work out. Bad bounce," he said. "I feel like everyone has been through a moment like this in their career and it's just part of the process. Just a bump in the road you got to get over." 

He knows it's just one play and that he'll need to be at his best in Game 4 on Monday - especially with Josh Morrissey unavailable for the rest of the series due to a lower-body injury - but that game feels far away at the moment.

"I don't think it could get any worse than it is right now," Samberg said. "But I think this will definitely test my adversity and I'm just looking forward to Game 4 now." 

In the immediate aftermath, Samberg had a number of teammates tap him on the shin pads, offer words of encouragement, and make sure he knew how important he is to a Jets team that now trails the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

"I gave him a late call last night just to check on him and we move on," said head coach Rick Bowness. "We'll make sure we're doing everything that we can to support him. He got a tremendous amount of support from his teammates last night and that was huge but we talked about it in the room, we touched base with him after, and we'll just keep touching base with him."

Video: MEDIA | Nate Schmidt

That show of unity is important and could even become something of a rallying point for the Jets. After all, they've been resilient all season. Prior to the holiday break, with injuries to as many as seven regulars, Winnipeg still found ways to put wins on the board.

They'll need to channel a bit of that starting on Monday and based on some of the words spoken by defencemen on Sunday, that process is already underway.

They're making sure Samberg has the support he needs, and Nate Schmidt - who has been his defensive partner for the majority of the season - knows that the two-time NCAA champion will bounce back. 

"He's a kid that is awfully resilient," said Schmidt. "For a guy like that to be like that at a young age and have that confidence in himself, I've been proud of the way he's handled himself this year. I can't think of another reason why he wouldn't make us proud tomorrow night."

Additionally, it won't be easy to replace Morrissey's 76 regular season points, his team-leading 24:14 in average ice time per game, or his leadership qualities off the ice. But the Norris Trophy candidate is staying around the room as much as he can, offering advice based on what he's seeing, and trying to lead in any way he can without being on the ice. 

Bowness received a late text from Morrissey on Saturday, and obviously the defenceman is gutted that he can't play, but he's showing no quit - just like his teammates.

Video: MEDIA | Samberg & Pionk 

"We want his presence felt around the room," said Bowness. "Now we need other guys, obviously, to step up, which they did a phenomenal job of last night, all five of those guys. We'll play six tomorrow night, maybe even throw seven out there." 

Kyle Capobianco and Logan Stanley would be the two options on the current roster to slot in for Monday night. Capobianco played 14 games for the Jets in the regular season scoring twice, while Stanley played 19 games and was involved in all eight games Winnipeg had in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Regardless of how it shakes out, it's going to be a full team effort to cover off the minutes and contributions that Morrissey brings. 

They scored four goals in Game 3 - three in the third - without Morrissey there, so they know it can be done.

"It should give us motivation that we can come back from anything and that we can overcome any challenge," said Neal Pionk, who played a team high 41:08 and had three assists. "We didn't finish the comeback, but coming back down from three goals and tying the game should be a spark or some motivation for the rest of the series."

Video: MEDIA | Rick Bowness

There is one other thing in the Jets corner, and that is the whiteout, which reached incredible decibel levels when Adam Lowry tied the game late in the third. Schmidt felt the fans had a lot to do with Winnipeg's ability to battle back.

"It was pretty special," he said. "I know the start of the game, we give up two early, but the crowd stayed in it the whole time. I think that's such an important part. That's what you're going to need. You have to have that advantage when you come home. We end up dropping the game last night, but we took a lot of momentum from them last night."

So the Jets will take Sunday to rest and recover, mentally and physically, from a tough Game 3.

When they arrive on Monday, they'll put all they have into tying up the series, presenting a united front against the Western Conference's top team who they've battled with shot for shot, hit for hit, and stride for stride all series.

"We're seeing now what kind of series it's going to be," said Schmidt. "I think this is going to be a long series. It's just the beginning."