While this game itself would normally be excitement enough as the Jets and Predators battle for 1st in the Central, when you sprinkle in the Trade Deadline day moves, this seems to be about a lot more than simply another game on the schedule. Of course, regardless of how we evaluate the significance of the game the players will simply see it as an opportunity to add two more points into their standings bank.
We anticipate Paul Stastny making his Winnipeg debut tonight but will have to wait until line rushes to know if tonight will be the night. Stay tuned. We do know that Connor Hellebuyck gets the start in net and Michael Hutchinson will back him up.
Morning skate notes:
Via Sara Orlesky of TSN “No Hellebuyck, Byfuglien or Enstrom for #NHLJets morning skate. No line rushes.”. Which means we will have to wait for confirmation of the lines when coach Maurice speaks following skate.
Coach confirms that Stastny will centre Ehlers/Laine and Copp moves to 4C with Hendricks moving to wing.
Jets lines, D pairs and goalies:
Connor – Scheifele – Wheeler
Perreault – Little – Roslovic
Ehlers – Stastny – Laine
Hendricks – Copp – Armia
Morrissey – Byfuglien
Kulikov – Myers
Morrow – Chiarot
Hellebuyck
Hutchinson
Extras: Dano, Morrow.
Injured: Mason, Tanev, Matthias, Lowry and Trouba.
Unknown: Enstrom.
Audio:
Paul Stastny
Joe Morrow
Coach Maurice: Where does Stastny line up? Why is he a good fit between Ehlers/Laine? What is next for Andrew Copp? Status of Tobias Enstrom? On the battle against the Predators. What does Joe Morrow bring to the group and where does he see him slot in? On usage of Stastny. Stastny on Jets special teams. Which unit will he play with? What challenges does bringing in a new player present to a team with this type of chemistry? Is this a measuring stick game for the Jets? What does he sense that the trade has done for the mood of his team? How long does it take for a new player to get “comfortable” and can anything be done to speed that up? Who does he count on to make adjustments on the Stastny line?
Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.
