Game 16: Winnipeg Jets vs Buffalo Sabres pre-game report

Like the Jets the Sabres haven’t played much of late. This is just their fifth game in the last 13 days although they are in a bit of a slide having lost three of four during that stretch.

What’s worse is that in the loss to the Bruins on Tuesday they lost an almost 50 goal scorer in Tage Thompson who is out week-to-week. According to NHL.com Independent Correspondent Heather Engel forwards Alex Tuch and Zach Benson are expected to return to the lineup from injury. Folks around these parts are quite familiar with Benson (2023 1st rounder) who spent three seasons playing for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL. Sounds like former Jets/Moose netminder Eric Comrie could also be ready to return from injury as per Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald.

Skate news:

The Jets held an optional this morning. Seems like Logan Stanley could be coming back into the lineup. For now lines and D pairs are based on yesterday’s practice.

Warm-up:

Logan Stanley on the ice. Nate Schmidt is not.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Gustafsson-AJF

Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Stanley

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Player pre-game interviews:

Coach pre-game interview:

Topics:

1) Playing a home back-to-back.
2) The Sabres missing Tage Thompson. (1:15)
3) Is Logan Stanley playing tonight? Who comes out? Is 11/7 an option? (2:10)
4) How will they run the goalies for the next two games? (2:38)
5) Thoughts on Mason Appleton’s season. (3:10)

Sabres media:

Betway Odds:

While just three points separate these two clubs the Jets seem to be rising up while the Sabres appear to be falling down. Buffalo has lost two straight and are sitting with a -6 goal differential while Winnipeg has won four of last five and gotten back into the positive with a +5 in that category. The oddsmakers give the edge to the home team in this contest. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

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 also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show. (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).