The Jets and Oilers will renew hostilities during this home and home series which will start by closing out the seven-game homestand in Winnipeg. Edmonton is the top team in the Western Conference with a record of 11-3-0 while Winnipeg sits 2nd in the Central and are an impressive 6-1-1 at home. Should be quite the clash.
Jets bench boss Paul Maurice confirmed no Paul Stastny tonight so you can expect the lines and D pairs as they were in practice yesterday.
Pre-skate news:
On a positive development note 2017 2nd rounder Dylan Samberg is sufficiently healed up from his high-ankle sprain he suffered on day 1 of training camp as he was reassigned by the Jets to the Moose this morning. Give them quite the stable of D prospects.
Morning skate:
As per Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun goalie Connor Hellebuyck is going through his normal pre-game skate routine. He adds that Dominic Toninato is wearing a full shield after he got hit in the face during practice. And not surprisingly he confirms no Paul Stastny today.
Jets projected lines & D pairs:
Copp-Scheifele-Ehlers
Connor-Dubois-Wheeler
Harkins-Lowry-Svechnikov
Toninato-Nash-Vesalainen
Morrissey-Schmidt
Dillon-Pionk
Stanley-DeMelo
Hellebuyck
Comrie
Players media availability:
“I think just play fast, with both [Ehlers’] and [Scheifele’s] speed we can be dangerous off the rush. … It’ll be a great test to see where we are at.”
Andrew Copp on matching-up against the Oilers, Dominic Toninato on life after losing teeth at practice, and more!
WATCH ? pic.twitter.com/zkLB2yhnDG
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 16, 2021
Coach media availability:
“You’ve got to have the puck first, you have to be smart. How much time can you control the game is how much time you have the puck. You can’t have an only defence mindset.”
Paul Maurice on playing styles against the Oilers, confidence in goaltending, and more!
WATCH ? pic.twitter.com/pR7fcMoQds
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 16, 2021
Topics:
1) Has he seen two teammates that can do what McDavid and Draisaitl can do?
2) Is it easier to face them on same line or separately? (:51)
3) How does the Oilers increased depth this season change his game plan? (1:19)
4) What can he do to try to impose the game he wants his team to play? (2:11)
5) Risk profile and coverage (3:27)
6) On Hellebuyck being able to step up after a goal he might want back (4:35)
7) What did he see from Dylan Samberg during the prospect’s time with the Jets? (5:39)
8) Zone time (6:43)
Up Next:
Puck drop is at 7 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).
