The Jets took Wednesday off after they clinched third spot and a playoff date with the Oilers (worth noting the series schedule was released today and you can see it here). However Winnipeg still has one game left before they can turn their focus onto Edmonton as they will welcome Toronto to town tomorrow night for the regular season finale.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Skate news:
As per Mitchell Clinton forward Andrew Copp is missing from skate this morning. Tucker Poolman isn’t listed in the lines and D pairs which Mitch tweeted. However Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet indicates that Poolman is skating today but is in a non-contact uniform.
Projected lines & D pairs:
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Perreault-Stastny-Dubois
Toninato-Lowry-Appleton
Harkins-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-DeMelo
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-Benn
Heinola-Niku
Tomorrow’s starter:
Jets coach Paul Maurice confirmed in his availability that Connor Hellebuyck starts tomorrow night.
Absent:
The bench boss of Winnipeg also confirmed that Andrew Copp won’t play tomorrow night.
Player availability:
Coach availability:
Topics:
1) What can he say about players missing and an update on Nikolaj Ehlers?
2) What is the plan for Connor Hellebuyck?
3) Where is the team health wise and is it an advantage to be playing game 1 on Wednesday?
4) How important is it to have an optimal lineup for Friday?
5) What can the team do to guard against fragility in the playoffs?
6) The penalty kill being less aggressive of late?
7) The condensed schedule in the first round.
8) On tomorrow’s game – better to get through it or have playoff mentality?
9) What does he hope the group took from season series with Oilers?
10) What stood out about the team recently that shows they are making strides?
11) Is there anything from coaching in pandemic that he would bring to next season?
Up next:
The Jets conclude the regular season tomorrow night at 7 PM. Be sure to keep it locked to illegalcurve.com for the AM Papers which go live at 7 AM CT and join us on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and Toronto.
