Game 15: Jets vs. Avalanche pre-game report

If it feels like it has been a lifetime since our last pre-game report it is because it has been a long, long time since the Jets last played a game.  While a week is certainly not a lifetime it has been a long stretch of practice after practice after practice for Winnipeg.  Today they take on an Avalanche team that has lost four straight games (0-3-1) but still boast one of the top lines in the NHL.  This kicks off the first of four games for the Jets in Winnipeg.

AM skate notes:

As per Paul Edmonds of TSN 1290 Winnipeg all Jets are present and accounted for today at morning skate.  Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun indicated that Joe Morrow stayed on for extra work so it could be that Dmitry Kulikov draws back into the lineup.  (Jets put out their pre-game lineup and it has Kulikov in for Morrow).

Projected Jets lines, D pairs and starting goalie:

Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Little-Perreault
Laine-Lowry-Tanev
Petan-Copp-Roslovic

Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Kulikov-Myers

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Patrik Laine

Coach Maurice:  Competition in the third D pairing.  What is he looking for from one of them to try to separate themselves.  Does he feel that Kulikov is close to getting back to his level from last season?  How is Chiarot doing with Byfuglien?  On taking the first penalty of the game of the last ten straight.  On the Jets PK and what is working well in that area.  With how his lines are right now does it make it difficult to try to contain the Avs top line?  What is the challenge in facing the Avs top line?  Is there anything Mikko Rantanen has done that has surprised him?  Is there anything he studied in how Colorado or Ottawa did last season coming off their overseas trip?

Up next:

Puck drop is at 7:00 PM.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game audio from the Jets and Avalanche rooms as well as from coach Maurice.