The Jets finally return to a normal schedule following the last two games not having game day morning skates. The players were back at the MTS Centre and according to Sean Reynolds of Sportsnet the lines* and D pairs looked like this:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Perreault-Laine
Matthias-Lowry-Armia
Tanev-Burmistrov-Thorburn
Morrissey-Byfuglien
Enstrom-Postma
Melchiori***-Chiarot
Hellebuyck**
Hutchinson
*Sean had Wheeler on left wing and Ehlers on right and I assume he just mistyped it so I’ve taken liberty to reverse them.
*Coach Maurice announced in his post-game presser on Sunday following the 3-1 loss to the Sabres that Connor Hellebuyck would get the start tonight against the Capitals.
*** Jets have recalled Julian Melchiori from the Moose as Mark Stuart is out of the lineup day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Player Audio:
Josh Morrissey: On what its like without Myers in the lineup. Facing a guy like Ovechkin. Does he feel like a regular NHLer now, ten games in? Does he still have pre-game jitters? Keys to feeling comfortable? What was it like for him to face off against Iginla?
Patrik Laine: Getting a chance to play Alexander Ovechkin in the NHL. Challenges shutting down Ovechkin and the Capitals? Will it still be a thrill to him to play Ovechkin? Has he talked to him before?
Nikolaj Ehlers: Getting back on the line with Scheifele and Wheeler. What did he like about the way they played against the Sabres that can carry over tonight? Any players he grew up idolizing that when he got a chance to play against in the NHL it was exciting?
Blake Wheeler: What is he looking forward to tonight? What are some of the things they liked about that Buffalo game? Does he look at the month ahead or try to take it on a game by game basis? Are there any players he looked up to when he first came into the league? The challenges presented by Washington.
Coach Audio:
Paul Maurice: Did he consider swapping Dano for Burmistrov? Did he factor not pulling Burmistrov after a mistake based on his comments earlier in the season? Injury updates (Myers, Stuart). Most dangerous elements of the Capitals? Change in Washington structure since Trotz took over? Stuart update. Biggest challenge for his D core? What has he liked about Postma’s game since being inserted into the lineup? What has impressed him about Postma’s character? Similarities between this team and the one a few years back that previously dealt with injuries but came together?
A look at the Washington Capitals lines come to us via Brian Munz of TSN 1290 Winnipeg:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Williams
Johansson-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Eller-Oshie
Sanford-Beagle-Connolly
Alzner-Niskanen
Orlov-Carlson
Orpik-Schmidt
Holtby
Grubauer
Player audio:
Alexander Ovechkin: On seeing Patrik Laine on TV. Given a chance will he chat with Laine. Does it make him feel old? Is there anyone he grew up idolizing when he first came up in the NHL? How did he end up a San Jose Sharks fan? How does he feel playing a little less on the ice?
