Tomas Jurco becoming the “go-to guy” that Jeff Blashill wanted
By Pat Evans –
GRAND RAPIDS – Trailing 2-0 in the series heading into Tuesday night, the Grand Rapids Griffins followed the lead of Tomas Jurco and put on an offensive clinic, winning the game 5-2.
Three of those goals were Jurco’s.
The role Jurco has played since returning to Grand Rapids for the playoffs after spending the second half of the season in Detroit hasn’t been a mistake.
Coming back, he chatted with head coach Jeff Blashill about what his role would have to be if they want to make it back to the Calder Cup Finals.
“Last year, I was a rookie, I wasn’t a go-to guy,” he said. “I was trying my best, but there was [Tomas Tatar} and [Gustav Nyquist], they were huge for us.
“I was talking to Blash and he told me I have to be a go-to guy this year.”
So far, he’s scored five goals in five games in the playoffs, including four in the current series against the Texas Stars.
Blashill has been happy with this play so far.
“The one thing we talked about was he has an opportunity to be the go-to guy, which he hasn’t been since he was in junior hockey,” Blashill said. “Last year, first half, he was surviving, the second half he was a real good player for us, but he wasn’t the go to guy. In Detroit this year, he wasn’t the go-to guy.”
It’s not just about goals scoring though, it’s about the whole, rounded game. With 12.5 seconds left in the game Tuesday night, Jurco dropped the gloves.
Although Blashill said he doesn’t want his player fighting, he likes seeing that toughness.
Jurco said he’s been playing hard, and wanted to add some physicality to his line, with Mitch Callahan and Riley Sheahan.
In Tuesday’s late game instance, there was some dirtiness in front of the Griffins’ net, and a Star pushed Jurco away. That made him mad and they “just grabbed each other.”
He said he’ll try to keep it going throughout the playoffs.
“I came down form Detroit and I’m trying to play hard, finish the checks, get points, gets goals, get the team going,” he said.