Game 1: Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars pre-game report

For the last two days the Jets have been running the same lines and D pairs which means there likely are not any question in that regard. The only thing we will have to find out is how will the team get to roster compliance. They’ve currently have 24 players on the roster as Jonathan Toews is listed as non-roster IR. However, if he is a player then they’ll have to change that designation and then they’d have to choose from Brad Lambert, Parker Ford (both waiver exempt) or David Gustafsson (not waiver exempt) to send down.

Skate news:

No changes this morning which means it seems likely Jonathan Toews plays and it also means it would necessitate a move.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Nyquist-Toews-Chibrikov
Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Iafallo
Koepke-Barron-Pearson

Morrissey-DeMelo
Fleury-Pionk
Stanley-Schenn

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Stars projected lines & D pairs:

Steel – Hintz – Rantanen
Blackwell – Duchene – Seguin
Robertson – Johnston – Bourque
Hryckowian – Faksa – Bastian
Erne

Lindell – Heiskanen
Harley – Lundkvist
Bichsel – Lyubushkin
Petrovic

Oettinger
DeSmith

As per Stars beat writer Sam Nestler from the 7th.

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:
1) Does he have a speech prepared for Jonathan Toews?
2) Will his energy be infectious to the group? (:34)
3) What has he learned about 19 being around him? (1:00)
4) What markers is he looking to see team is in their structure? (1:34)
5) What can he do to help Toews feel like he’s just one of the guys? (2:26)
6) Stars with a new head coach (3:45)
7) How do wisdom and intensity coexist in a player (Toews)? (4:37)
8) What does success look like to him from his depth players? (5:37)
9) Which player are they sending down to be roster compliant and why? (6:28)

Waivers:

Head coach Scott Arniel confirmed today that David Gustafsson had been placed on waivers which gets the team to a compliant 23-man roster.

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. You can join us on our YouTube channel for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 9:40 PM CDT as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.