Appleton discusses Jets' bid for Central title on 'NHL @TheRink' podcast

Center says Winnipeg 'in a great spot here' preparing for stretch run, playoffs

Mason Appleton has playoff fever.

The Winnipeg Jets center is enjoying life near the top of the Central Division standings, but he knows there is a long way to go.

The Jets (35-21-1) entered Wednesday one point behind the Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division; Winnipeg and Dallas each has been alternating at the top of the division.

"Coach 'Bones' [Rick Bowness] said it the other day, it is tough to get to the top and it is even tougher to stay there," Appleton said on this week's episode of the "NHL @TheRink" podcast. "I think we have been dealing with that a little, playing some good games, some average games and haven't been quite as consistent as we would like to be at the start of the season. 

"We are in a great spot here and we are a good hockey team, I think we realize that. With 25 games left, we have to make a real good push because the division is so tight. Two or three games might be the difference at the end of this thing. It is one game at a time, but we have to play our best hockey down the stretch here and hopefully find ourselves in a good spot come the start of the playoffs."

Josh Morrissey has been a huge part of Winnipeg's success. Among the favorites to win the Norris Trophy, awarded to the defenseman voted the best in the NHL, Morrissey has 58 points (11 goals, 47 assists), which ranks third at the position in the League.

Defenseman Kyle Capobianco says it is the attitude Morrissey has in his game that's driving him to new heights.

"He just plays such a confident game," Capobianco said. "Whatever he does, whether it's defending or on the blue line, he plays with confidence and he's making the right play. I love watching how he moves his feet and gets away from pressure. Obviously, the work he does on the blue line. He is awesome to watch." 

In addition to chatting with Appleton and Capobianco about the Jets and the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, host Shawn P. Roarke and special guest co-host Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com revisited the spectacle of the Stadium Series, where the Carolina Hurricanes, in the first outdoor game in their history, defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Saturday.

Zeisberger, who watched the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-3 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, discussed the trade that brought centers Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari to the Maple Leafs and the various ways O'Reilly can be worked into the Toronto lineup.

Roarke and Zeisberger also discussed the potential futures of San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and goalie John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, as well as what the Edmonton Oilers need to do before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3.

The "NHL @TheRink" podcast is free and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms. It is also available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.