The Jets have a game one win in their back pocket and are looking for more tonight in Edmonton. Big question marks remain as to the status of Nikolaj Ehlers and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Morning skate:
As per Tom Gazzola of TSN 1260 Edmonton both Nikolaj Ehlers and Pierre-Luc Dubois were in regular uniforms today at morning skate. We shall have to wait to hear from Jets head coach Paul Maurice how this will impact his lineup.
According to Sara Orlesky of TSN:
Wearing white at morning skate: Scheifele, Connor, Copp, Vesalainen, Ehlers and Dubois. No Stastny or Wheeler (they didn’t skate before game one either) Wearing blue: Perreault, Lowry, Appleton, Toninato, Thompson, Lewis and Harkins
Health/Lineup news:
Pierre-Luc Dubois spoke this morning and says he is “ready to go” and the fact that he is speaking would indicate he will return to the lineup for the first time since the 14th of May when he was knocked out of the last game of the regular season against the Leafs. Sara Orlesky added that Nikolaj Ehlers stayed on the ice with the scratches/taxi squad so it would appear just one move for Winnipeg ahead of tonight’s game.
Jason Gregor of TSN 1260 in Edmonton indicated that Kristian Vesalainen stayed out late which would show that he will come out with Dubois coming back in.
Paul Maurice confirms that Nikolaj Ehlers will not play tonight but says that game 3 on Sunday is a possibility.
Jets projected lines & D pairs:
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Copp-Stastny-Dubois
Perreault-Lowry-Appleton
Toninato-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-DeMelo
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-Poolman
Hellebuyck
Brossoit
Players media availability:
Coach media availability:
Topics:
1) What is he hoping to see from PLD and is it a fresh start?
2) Key to staying out of the penalty box.
3) Update on Nikolaj Ehlers?
4) On playoff hockey and PLD.
5) What does he expect this game to look like and will there be more emotion?
6) Could Nikolaj Ehlers play tonight?
7) His thoughts on what happened to Tavares last night in Toronto?
8) Difficulty in not taking penalties against Connor McDavid.
Up Next:
Puck drop is at 8:00 pm CDT. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interviews from Jets players as well as from head coach Paul Maurice. You can also join us afterwards for our post-game show here (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).
