The Jets had quite a busy Thursday. It began with the news that the team had recalled Joona Luoto from the Moose, placed Bryan Little on IR which was followed by a busy practice which saw captain Blake Wheeler take over the second line centre role. Following practice we learned that Little had suffered a perforated eardrum and is presently dealing with vertigo, Gabriel Bourque will be out a minimum of four weeks with a lower-body injury, while Tucker Poolman could return to action today.
Last night in Chicago the Canucks lost to the Blackhawks.
Morning Skate:
It is an optional skate today. For now the lines and D pairs. As per Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun no Connor Hellebuyck so expectation is he will start tonight. Ken Wiebe of The Athletic Winnipeg adds that “Early indications are that Jets third pairing will be Nathan Beaulieu-Luca Sbisa. Anthony Bitetto and Carl Dahlstrom are still on the ice”.
Jets projected lines and D pairs:
Connor-Scheifele-Laine
Ehlers-Wheeler-Roslovic
Copp-Lowry-Perreault
Luoto-Gustafsson-Shaw
Morrissey-Poolman
Kulikov-Pionk
Beaulieu-Sbisa
Hellebuyck
Brossoit
Power Play:
PP1: Scheifele, Connor, Morrissey, Copp, Ehlers
PP2: Wheeler, Laine, Perreault, Pionk and Roslovic
As per Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun.
Audio:
Joona Luoto
Patrik Laine
Josh Morrissey
Coach Maurice: On the D pairings. What he’s learned about Pionk. David Gustafsson set to play his 10th game tonight, what has stood out about him? What has he learned about Joona Luoto? What did he see that was different/better when Laine was playing with 26/55? What did he want to see from guys this season to make their NHL debut? Is four a big number for guys to make NHL debuts in a season? What Logan Shaw brings. How he expects to use the power play units? Putting Copp into a role in the PP.
All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.
Post-Practice news:
The Jets announced they had reassigned 2019 1st round pick Ville Heinola from the Moose to Lukko Rauma of the Finnish league.
Up Next:
Puck drop is at 7:00 pm CDT. 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 room as well as from Coach Maurice.
