The story lines were predictable entering Winnipeg Jets training camp several weeks ago. Blackhawks Jerseys 2020 . Who is going to play with Kane? Is Pavelec ready for a bounce-back season? Can Morrissey assume one of the top six D spots or Ehlers the ninth forward position? And to a significant degree, Paul Mauricea€?s first training camp as the cluba€?s head coach - and the seven pre-season games recently completed a€“ answered most of the aforementioned questions. In other words, boxes were checked and the blanks filled-in regarding open roster spots, physical conditioning and line combinations. After a warning shot fired by Maurice last spring to his players to come physically prepared this autumn for a a€?mana€?s training camp,a€? the Jets, to-a-player, arrived in peak condition. As a result, training camp was up tempo and grueling at times, testing even the most physically fit of the group. Days were long with skating and new systems the focal point. But there was also the evaluation process, which provided a glimpse into the future, both for this season and beyond. In year four of the NHLa€?s return to Winnipeg, the 2014-15 campaign offers a special look into a season in which the blend of Jetsa€? draft picks and established veterans are coming together. In fact, the young players are starting to push the conversation and forcing some veterans out of spots on the 23-man roster. The emergence of centre Mark Scheifele and defenceman Jacob Trouba last year started the emerging trend of prospects fighting their way into the lineup, while this season forwards Nic Petan and Nik Ehlers showed the organization they might only be a year away from being full-time NHL players. Both were reassigned back to their major junior teams last weekend in advance of the cluba€?s season opener in Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 9. But for the second straight October the Jets will open a new campaign with a rookie holding a significant lineup spot. After just one season in St. Johna€?s with the Jetsa€? top affiliate in the American Hockey League, centre-turned-winger Adam Lowry muscled his way into that position this fall. The 6-foot-5 son of former NHLer Dave Lowry will start the season on a line with newly acquired centre Mathieu Perreault and always compelling Dustin Byfuglien. Lowry will play the left side on the cluba€?s third line, a departure from the centre position he was drafted as in 2011 and played in 2013-14 with the AHL finalist IceCaps. a€?Ita€?s pretty exciting,a€? said Lowry when asked about making the Jets out of training camp. a€?You work all summer and your career to get to this point.a€? Prior to this yeara€?s impressive camp and preseason Lowry, 21, made an earlier impression on Maurice during St. Johna€?s deep playoff run last spring, a sojourn that concluded with the club losing in the championship final to Texas Stars. a€?Watching games in the playoffs last year I knew based on his intelligence and stick that he was going to play at the NHL level,a€? said Maurice. a€?Hea€?s got a game thata€?s developed from the defensive point of view first. From what Ia€?ve seen, I have complete confidence in him to play the role wea€?ve given him. Hea€?s earned it.a€? Lowry did not win the job without some effective competition at camp. He was tested by Petan and Ehlers, the cluba€?s 2014 first-round pick. Both showed tremendous potential for what the future holds on the Jetsa€? forward corp, especially Ehlers whose speed, puck control and positioning have fans and management excited about the future. Added into the mix is defenceman Josh Morrissey, who was also assigned back to junior last weekend for his 19-year-old season with the WHLa€?s Prince Albert Raiders. a€?Therea€?s a really good template there,a€? said Maurice, when queried about the teama€?s three teenage prospects. a€?I loved their camp, but forcing them into the lineup had absolutely no benefit to them or the hockey team. Theya€?ll go back to their junior teams and theya€?re going to get better. Theya€?ve learned something at (our) camp. a€?Ia€?d be careful with my words if I didna€?t think that all three of them were going to be Winnipeg Jets at some point.a€? When Jetsa€? training camp began there was a broad spotlight on individual conditioning. Among those under a closer eye than most was goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. The veteran netminder came into camp in excellent physical condition and when he was asked what he did as an altered off-season regimen to be so fit, he replied: a€?Ita€?s a secret.a€? Whatever he cryptically did different to prepare this summer has served him well out of the gate. Pavelec, whose performance the past two seasons has been met with frequent criticism from fans and media had an excellent preseason. The 27-year-old appeared in four exhibition games (starting all four) and produced a 2-1 record with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Now, putting stock behind preseason numbers isna€?t always a sage way to predict regular season success, but had those totals not reflected something as impressive as they are, a grass fire of Pavelec questions would have turned into an inferno before the teama€?s opening weekend in the American Southwest. The final chapter to Jetsa€? training camp stories was the subject of linemates for Evander Kane. Already entering his sixth season (fourth with Winnipeg), the 23-year-old was thought to be in need of better players around him in order to repeat or exceed the 30-goal season he amassed three years ago. Obviously the organization felt the same way and from Day 1 at training camp Maurice placed Kane, Scheifele and last yeara€?s scoring leader Blake Wheeler together. The trio played thrice as a unit during the preseason and appeared dynamic, quick, defensively responsible and prolific, especially in the cluba€?s final exhibition test when they combined for four points in a 4-1 victory over Calgary. Scheifelea€?s right-handed shot should put the puck easily on Kanea€?s stick all winter and the three could potentially become the teama€?s top offensive unit. But admittedly, the new combination will take some time to really reap the rewards. Under Mauricea€?s new system, defence is first but the quick-pace to puck possession and the transition to offence should result in more scoring chance and goals from that line. a€?When you throw three guys together ita€?s not instant magic,a€? said Wheeler, a newly anointed alternate captain on the team, who had 28 goals and 69 points last season. a€?We need to work at it in practice and talk about it. But we have the capability to create a lot of offence. Be patient.a€? Chicago Blackhawks Pro Shop . -- The Oakland Raiders added a veteran presence to their young receiving group by signing free agent James Jones to a three-year contract Monday. Fake Blackhawks Jerseys .com) - Thursday marks the official debut of a new dirt racing surface at Meydan Racecourse. https://www.cheapblackhawks.com/ . -- Brandon Hope stopped 46 shots and Kurtis MacDermid scored with 27 seconds remaining in overtime as the Owen Sound Attack edged the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 5-4 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins spot in the post-season is assured. The Phoenix Coyotes are living much more dangerously. For long stretches during Phoenixs 3-2 win on Tuesday night, it certainly looked like the other way around. Pouncing on a series of sloppy mistakes by the suddenly erratic Penguins, the Coyotes picked up two vital points in the chase for the eighth-seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Thomas Greiss stopped 23 shots -- including all 15 he faced over the final two periods -- and received plenty of help as Phoenix rebounded a night after losing starting goaltender Mike Smith indefinitely with a right leg injury in a loss to the New York Rangers on Monday. David Moss, Antoine Vermette and Mikkel Boedker scored for the Coyotes, who never trailed while dropping the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins to just 6-6-2 since the Olympic break. "It gives confidence that if you can win in Pittsburgh you can win anywhere," Phoenix forward Shane Doan said. Jussi Jokinen and Taylor Pyatt scored for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves, but the Penguins failed to clinch a playoff berth and looked lifeless at times without centre Evgeni Malkin, who is out 2-3 weeks after hurting his foot in a loss to St. Louis on Sunday. While hes expected by the end of the regular season, his absence is just the latest setback in a season in which Pittsburgh has lost over 400 man games due to injuries. It didnt seem to bother the Penguins as they built a seemingly insurmountable division lead. Coach Dan Bylsma isnt sure now is the time to start throwing around blame. "I dont think injuries had anything to do with today or what you saw on the ice," he said. More disconcerting for Pittsburgh is its lack of focus. The Penguins held a brief players only meeting after the game and cancelled a scheduled practice on Wednesday. "I dont think theres anyone feeling sorry for us, but that still doesnt allow us not to have the right type of effort and work ethic," centre Sidney Crosby said. Phoenixs play had a little bit to do with it. If the Coyotes were rattled by the loss of their franchise goaltender, it didnt exactly show. Greiss has been effective when sspelling Smith this season, though he wasnt sharp while allowing the Rangers to steal two points Monday by rallying for an overtime victory after he replaced Smith with 7:32 left in regulation and the Coyotes holding a one-goal lead. Stitched Blackhawks Jerseys. No matter. Despite a short turnaround in the midst of a three-game road trip that could shape the final weeks of the regular season, Greiss kept the Penguins in check. "I thought we did a good job of being close to one another," Moss said. "It seemed like if there was a breakdown, there was support. If they had a chance, (Greiss) made a huge save." Whenever Pittsburgh made a mistake deep in its own zone, the Coyotes were there to take advantage. Moss picked up his seventh goal of the year when great forechecking by Martin Hanzal and Brandon McMillan produced a turnover that ended with Moss all alone in front of the Penguins net. Jokinens 18th goal of the season tied it 11:51 into the period, kind of. His wrist shot caromed out of the back of the net so quickly the goal light never came on. Play continued for nearly 3 minutes before a stoppage in play provided time for the goal to be awarded on replay. Vermette put Phoenix back in front with a power-play goal, poking a rebound between Fleurys legs. Pyatt knotted it at 2 with just 4 seconds left in the first by deflecting in Rob Scuderis shot from the point. The back-and-forth play, however, stopped over the final 40 minutes as the Coyotes choked off the Penguins while continuing to effectively counterpunch. Boedker put Phoenix in front to stay 13:18 into the second period by grabbing a rebound in front of the Pittsburgh net and roofing it over Fleurys glove as a penalty to Jokinen expired. NOTES: Injured Penguins defenceman Paul Martin did not skate on Tuesday morning due to an illness. Martin, who has not played since injuring his hand while playing for Team USA in the Winter Olympics, will have an X-ray on Sunday to determine his progress. ... The Coyotes recalled G Mark Visentin from the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League to serve as the backup until Smiths status is determined. ... The Penguins host Los Angeles on Thursday while Phoenix wraps up its road trip Thursday in New Jersey. ' ' '