Game 16: Winnipeg Jets vs New York Rangers pre-game report

The Jets have spent the past two days off the ice as they get ready for a stretch where they play nine of the next ten games on the road starting tonight in New York against the Rangers. Winnipeg comes into the game as the hottest team in the NHL having suffered just one defeat this season with both an eight-game win streak to start the season and now a six-game streak which is the one they are on currently. In addition to having the best goalie in the NHL this Jets club leads the league in a number of categories including goals for (67), goal differential (+36), power play (41.9%) to name a few.

Their opponent this evening is no slouch and counter with the best penalty kill in the NHL at 91.1% while also boasting the 6th overall power play. While they don’t score quite as often as their opponent (then again who does) they have allowed one less goal against this season which shows a stinginess which isn’t a surprise given they have Igor Shesterkin between the pipes. The biggest producer for New York has been Artemi Panarin who sits with 21 points (10G 11) but then there is a steep drop off to second spot including Alexis Lafrenière, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox with 11 each. And Chris Kreider is going for the Cy Young it would appear with his eight goals and zero assists.

Skate news:

According to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press defenceman Ville Heinola has shed his non-contact uniform for a regular one. What’s interesting is that when he is ready to come off IR that will leave the Jets with 24 players. Even if they want Heinola to go to the Moose on a conditioning assignment they have to have a roster spot for him which means they’ll have to place someone on waivers. As Wieber points out this is Heinola’s first full skate with the team since day 1 of training camp back on September 19th.

Ken also confirms that netminder Connor Hellebuyck is going through his starting routine and will get the call between the pipes.

Lastly he also notes that Logan Stanley is absent and Haydn Fleury is skating alongside Colin Miller so that looks like the only change ahead of puck drop.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Kupari-Iafallo

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Miller

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Rangers projected lines & D pairs:

Panarin – Zibanejad – Lafrenière
Kreider – Trocheck – Smith
Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko
Edström – Carrick – Vesey

Miller – Trouba
Lindgren – Fox
Jones – Schneider

Shesterkin
Quick

Via NY Rangers reporter for USA Today Vince Z. Mercogliano.

Health Update:

After morning skate coach Scott Arniel advised Ken Wiebe that Logan Stanley was back in Winnipeg dealing with a mid-body injury. Said that Stanley will be re-evaluated after Jets return home.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6 PM CST.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. Reminder to join us on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 8:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.