Note: The Jets held a late afternoon practice in Vancouver which saw Brenden Dillon return to the top 4 as well as Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers flipping lines. Morning skate for the visitors gets underway at 1:30 PM CST. All the relevant news will be posted in the pre-game report so check back for that. Puck drop is at 9 PM CST.
Note II: This evening, after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and Vancouver we want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.
Note III: The Moose were set to practice on Friday as they prepared to face the Admirals this afternoon which kicks off two against the division leaguing club from Milwaukee which has let to lose in 2024. They have gone an amazing 15-0-0-0 in January and February. Tall task for the Moose who finally got back into a playoff spot. Before things got started yesterday Manitoba did send goalie Oskari Salminen to Norfolk of the ECHL which leaves them with Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic and Collin Delia as their tandem. It’s Chaz Lucius bobblehead which the first 3000 fans will received. Puck drop is at 2 PM CST.
Note IV: Be sure to join us this morning for the Illegal Curve Hockey Show for two hours of Jets talk starting at 9 AM. We will be joined by Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun and International Influencer and father of Jets goalie Chuck Hellebuyck.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Well-rested Dillon excited to return. (Paywall). The BC product will have plenty of energy and he’s going to need it going ok against a high powered Canucks team that sits first in the NHL.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Sun: Jets’ Dillon ‘excited’ for return after three-game suspension. That was one long unintended break for the Jets D man who played about ten minutes of the Feb 6th game against the Penguins before being given a match penalty five minutes into the 2nd period. Which means since the January 27th game against the Leafs to tonight’s game against the Canucks (three weeks) he has not played very much hockey.
Sportsnet: 32 Thoughts – Elliotte Friedman on the Jets and Ville Heinola. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman were discussing all the adds to be made still by the Western Conference teams in the typical arms race which leads up to the trade deadline and then Friedman spoke about Heinola being an “internal add”.
TSN: Western Conference arms race is well underway well before the NHL trade deadline. Although don’t bother watching the video since it’s about, prepared to be shocked, the Leafs. Not sure why that would be embedded in a video about teams in the west but it is what it is. The article itself talks about the race that Winnipeg is in with a number of other teams.
Jets video:
Donnie and Dhali – The Team: Jamie Thomas on the Winnipeg Jets season, crowd support in Winnipeg and more. Jamie Thomas from Jets TV joined the guys and talked about the Jets play this season, the job Rick Bowness has done and more.
Jets prospect news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets prospect Barlow remains positive through adversity. (Paywall). After dealing with injury earlier in the season the Jets first round selection from last NHL Draft has been on a tear scoring 20 goals in his last 21 games. Wieber caught up with him.
Moose news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Moose confident heading into crucial six-game homestand. (Paywall). Today should prove to be quite a clash between two teams that are both feeling good about their games although the visitors are playing at a Super Hero level (which they should save for their Monday re-match) as that is literally the Super Hero game.
