Soaring Jets aren’t shifting to autopilot

5-0-1 since Christmas break, players know bad week or two can erase progress

BUFFALO You won’t catch Blake Wheeler looking ahead to the extended vacation the Winnipeg Jets are about to enjoy.

The captain of the Jets has spoken all season long about the importance of staying in the moment and that won’t change with three games to play before the five-day break mandated by the collective bargaining agreement.

“You’ve got to pack a little bit differently for this road trip,” Wheeler told reporters before the Jets made their way to Buffalo on Monday afternoon to prepare to meet the Sabres on Tuesday night.

“That’s what has given us success this year, we haven’t looked too far ahead, haven’t overlooked any opponent. We’re trying to get better at everything we do every single day.”

The Jets are 5-0-1 since the Christmas break and remain in first place in the Central Division standings, but they’re not about to kick up their feet and shift into cruise control.

“We haven’t separated ourselves from anyone,” Wheeler said.

“Our division and the ( Western) Conference is strong this year. If you want to get to where we want to get, at no point can you sit back and feel content or pat each other on the back.

“If you look at where we’re positioned, we like that, but there are teams right on our heels. That’s a good thing. It keeps you driving, keeps you wanting more success. The more you get, the more you want. If you have a bad week or two, you’re on the playoff bubble, probably.

“There’s no time for feeling gratified in January. You keep pushing forward. This is going to be a big month for us.”

The trip concludes with games against a pair of Central Division opponents, the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, on Friday and Saturday.

“It’s the time of the year you don’t want to get ahead of yourself,” Jets centre Bryan Little said.

“There’s quite a bit that can happen still and a lot of hockey left, a lot of games left. We’re all happy with where we’re at, but we’re not patting ourselves on the back. We’re still finding ways to win, so that’s really big. But we can’t look too far down the calendar right now.”

MOVES MADE

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jets centre Adam Lowry sat out another game with an upper-body injury.

The Jets recalled winger Brendan Lemieux from the Manitoba Moose and sent defenceman Tucker Poolman down to the American Hockey League team on Monday afternoon.

The demotion of Poolman was expected, since the blue-liner missed the past three games as a healthy scratch after Dustin Byfuglien returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with a lower-body injury.

Poolman needs to be playing, so spending some time with the Moose during the AHL team’s six-game homestand makes perfect sense.