For the first time ever there will be an NHL Game 7 played in Winnipeg as the Jets and Blues look to punch their ticket to the second round where they will face the Stars who defeated the Avalanche last night in the other Central Division game 7.
The biggest question for the home team is whether or not they’ll get Mark Scheifele back. The Jets top line centre was skating on his own on Saturday and was called a game-time decision by head coach Scott Arniel in his media availability. We shall have to see what morning skate brings. For now the lines and D pairs are based on game 6 given the team didn’t skate yesterday.
There has been plenty of legacy talk in the media as the Blues are a team playing with house money while the Jets have all the pressure of expectations on their shoulders. Can the home team continue to hold serve in this series? We will find out soon enough.
Morning skate news:
No Mark Scheifele and no Logan Stanley today at morning skate. So only change appears to be Haydn Fluery in for Stanley. No changes to the forward lines.
Jets lines & D pairs:
Connor-Namestnikov-Vilardi
Ehlers-Lowry-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Barron-Appleton
Tanev-Toninato-Iafallo
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Schenn
Hellebuyck
Blues lines and D pairs:
Buchnevich-Thomas-Kyrou
Neighbours-Schenn-Snuggerud
Joseph-Sundqvist-Bolduc
Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker
Extra: Texier
Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk
Suter-Leddy
Extra: Kessel
*Tucker not skating
Binnington
Hofer
This is how the Blues practiced on Saturday according to Jeremy Rutherford who covers the Blues for The Athletic in St. Louis.
Health news:
Scott Arniel confirmed that Mark Scheifele will not be a player this evening.
Player media availability:
Coach media availability
Topics:
1) Status of Mark Scheifele?
2) Degree of difficult playing without top centre. (:04)
3) Limiting Blues D core offensively at home vs on road (:34)
4) Fleury in for Stanley? (1:24)
5) Managing energy on the day of Game 7 (1:36)
6) What he’s liked from Lowry’s time with Ehlers (2:22)
7) Is Logan Stanley an option for tonight? (2:50)
8) Strength of this team’s belief in sum of their parts (2:55)
9) Balance of risk vs safe plays (4:16)
Up Next:
Come say hi at the Special Edition Illegal Curve pre-game show live from Cityplace starting at 4 PM CDT (or join us here).
Puck drop is at 6 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 Scott Arniel. You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).
Podcast:
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