2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche pre-game 5 report

The Jets are trying to stave off elimination against the Colorado Avalanche this evening and do the near impossible to fight back in a best of seven series down three games to one. Despite the long odds there was not a defeatist attitude when we spoke to Neal Pionk, Adam Lowry and head coach Rick Bowness who all chatted yesterday from hockey for all centre during an off day for the team. We did get some health updates from the Jets bench boss and it sounds like Vlad Namestnikov and Brenden Dillon could be options for Winnipeg.

Colorado has been coming at the Jets in waves and have neutralized some of the Jets skilled forwards (Ehlers, Vilardi) so far in this series. They’ve also managed to blow up Connor Hellebuyck‘s numbers in this series.

About the only solace the home team can take this evening, although best taken with a grain of salt, is that the Avs haven’t been a killer on the road failing to hit the 20 win mark away from Ball Arena.

Morning skate news:

No Brenden Dillon and no Vlad Namestnikov at morning skate.

Lines & D pairs:

Ehlers-Scheifele-Vilardi
Perfetti-Monahan-Connor
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Iafallo-Gustafsson-Toffoli

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Schmidt-Miller

Hellebuyck

Player media:

Coach media:

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 8:30 pm CDT. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. Join us before the game on the Illegal Curve Pre-Game Show which gets underway at 6:30 PM CDT and which you can watch live at CityPlace (333 St. Mary Avenue). As well we want you to be part of the discussion after the final buzzer on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show.