Game 22: Winnipeg Jets vs Washington Capitals pre-game report

The Jets left Winnipeg hoping to change their fortunes knowing they’ve been playing a better version of their style of hockey despite not getting the results. But sitting on the outside looking in with U.S. Thanksgiving around the corner they need to get things back on track sooner rather than later. It won’t be an easy take as they go up against Alex Ovechkin and his Capitals this evening in Washington.

We do expect top D prospect Elias Salomonsson (2022 2nd) to make his NHL debut with Neal Pionk out of the lineup (day-to-day). Winnipeg also shuffled their lines up to try to geneate some more offence.

If this becomes a special teams game then the advantage would be with the visitors. The Jets PP sits 7th overall while the PK is also 7th. Meanwhile the Capitals power play is 27th while the penalty kill sits 29th.

Skate news:

As per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press no changes to the lines or D pairs from yesterday’s practice. He said that Pionk skated on his own.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Pearson-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Lowry-Iafallo
Barron-Toews-Nyquist

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Salamonsson
Stanley-Miller

Comrie

Capitals projected lines & D pairs:

Ovechkin – Strome – Beauvillier
Protas – Sourdif – Wilson
Duhaime – McMichael – Leonard
Milano – Lapierre – Frank

Fehervary – Carlson
Chychrun – Roy
Sandin – Chisholm

Thompson

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Update on Pionk?
2) Elias Salomonsson paired with Samberg.
3) Similarities between Salomonsson & Samberg (:29)
4) Veterans sitting and how they’ve handled it (1:06)
5) Hope that Salomonsson makes it tough to take him out (2:12)
6) Latest on Haydn Fleury (2:59)
7) How has team reacted to losing Connor Hellebuyck? (3:09)
8) Capitals D getting involved (4:02)

Health news:

“Thought he’d try it again today. Didn’t feel quite right. Day-to-day”. That was the assessment of Jets head coach Scott Arniel on Neal Pionk who Mike indicated skated on his own today. Regarding Haydn Fleury who is in concussion protocol, he is not on the trip and has not passed the concussion test.

Odds:

Washington enters this matchup riding the momentum of a convincing 5–1 victory, and the oddsmakers have taken notice, installing the Capitals as the favorites on home ice. Winnipeg, meanwhile, comes in looking to shake off a 3–0 shutout loss, though an extra day of rest could help the Jets reset and regain their rhythm. The question becomes whether the Jets can turn that added rest into a sharper, more disciplined effort—or if Washington will validate its favored status with another assertive performance in front of its own crowd. For the latest Winnipeg Jets hockey odds, visit NHL betting site Betway.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6 PM CST. 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 8:40PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.