Game 1: Jets vs. Flames pre-game report

While the Jets set their roster on Wednesday the big question was the status of Nikolaj Ehlers who missed practice yesterday due to CPRA (covid protocols related absence).

Morning skate news:

It is an optional skate for the Jets today according to Jets PR.

As per Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet:

“By my count, there are 11 F and 7 D with 2 G out there. No Nikolaj Ehlers, Adam Lowry or Paul Stastny. Important to remember that skipping the morning skate doesn’t necessarily mean those players won’t play. Among the 7 D are Dylan Samberg and Logan Stanley, which means Dylan DeMelo also skipped the morning skate. Again, this doesn’t mean those players are out. Many players will be skipping morning skates this season for reasons that are not related to Covid protocols.”

Below are how things ran yesterday in practice without Nikolaj Ehlers.  Lots can change.  Stay tuned.

Roster update from head coach Paul Maurice:

Coach Maurice indicated that Logan Stanley and Mathieu Perreault move off taxi squad. Dylan DeMelo will not play tonight as he and his wife had a baby. No change in the status of Nikolaj Ehlers (could play or could not play).

The Jets bench boss said Sami Niku draws in and Kristian Vesalainen could be a player.

The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to play after clearing COVID-19 protocols.

Warm-up skate:

Gets going at 6:30 pm approximately and that’s when we’ll have a better idea about the composition of the lineup.

Update:  Nikolaj Ehlers came out for warm up skate and took line rushes with the top line.  Kristian Vesalainen also took to the ice for warm up skate but did not get into line rushes.

Jets Projected Lines, D Pairs and starting goalie:

Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Stastny-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis

Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Beaulieu-Niku

Hellebuyck

Player availability:

Coach Paul Maurice availability:

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7:00 pm CT.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interviews from the Jets room as well as from coach Maurice.