Game 17: Jets vs Hurricanes pre-game report

The Jets have split the two games of this three-game homestand and are looking to conclude it with a win against a Hurricanes team that sits second in the Metropolitan Division behind the juggernaut New Jersey Devils.

Bench boss Rick Bowness said on Saturday that he is hopeful to have Dylan DeMelo back today and the defenceman did take part in yesterday’s optional practice as he deals with an upper-body injury.

Skate news:

As per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press it is an optional this morning but he indicated that David Rittich is in the starter’s net. According to Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun it looks like Kyle Capobianco stayed on for extra work and it looks like Ville Heinola will make his season debut.

Lineup news:

Head coach Rick Bowness indicated that Jansen Harkins returns to the lineup tonight. He didn’t say who comes out.  Stay tuned for warm-up skate to find out.

Warm-up skate:

Ville Heinola paired up with Dylan Samberg. And Jansen Harkins comes in for Dominic Toninato.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Gagner
Perfetti-Dubois-Wheeler
Jonsson-Fjallby Lowry Maenalanen
Harkins-Gustafsson-Eyssimont

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-Schmidt
Samberg-Heinola

Rittich
Hellebuyck

Hurricanes projected lines & D pairs:

Noesen – Aho – Necas
Svechnikov – Kotkaniemi – Jarvis
Martinook – Staal – Fast
Drury – Stastny – Stepan

Slavin – Burns
Skjei – Pesce
de Haan – Chatfield

Kochetkov
Raanta

Carolina’s lines and D pairs come via the official team site.

Betway Odds:

Carolina comes into this game scoring more often than Winnipeg but also giving up more goals than the home team does. They also come into the game as favourites and perhaps that has to do with a solid 6-3-2 road record which the Jets counter with a 6-2-0 home record. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Getting Ville Heinola into the lineup.
1) Facing the Hurricanes. (:24)
2) Getting shots on net (1:05)
3) Did neutral zone puck movement factor into Heinola drawing in? (1:50)
4) Status of Dylan DeMelo (2:12)
5) Lineup for tonight (2:24)
6) Decision to start David Rittich tonight (2:55)
7) Status of Morgan Barron (3:31)

Health news:

There was some hope Dylan DeMelo would be available for tonight’s game but he isn’t quite ready according to head coach Rick Bowness as he continues to deal with his upper-body injury. He is listed as “day-to-day”. He will go on the trip with the Jets and they are hoping to get him into a game on their road trip. Morgan Barron, who is recovering from wrist surgery, will travel with the team but he is “aways away” as per head coach Rick Bowness and will remain in a non-contact uniform.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6:30 pm CST.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interviews from Jets players as well as from head coach Rick Bowness.

You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button). This season you’ll have a chance to win great schwag including authentic Jets jerseys, hats, etc after every single game (For a variety of ways to enter click here).