Game 23: Winnipeg Jets vs Carolina Hurricanes pre-game report

It is not do or die time given there are still 60 games left in the season but it is U.S. Thanksgiving and Winnipeg do find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to being in a playoff spot. They have a chance for a measure of revenge a week after the Hurricanes came to Manitoba and left with two points courtesy of their 4-3 win over the Jets.

Since then Winnipeg has suffered two additional losses which has made for a November to forget with them going 4-7-0 in the month to date. The bright spots remain special teams where they sit 6th overall on the power play and 6th overall when it comes to the penalty kill. As we said last week if it becomes a special teams game that favours the visitors as Carolina has the 29th ranked PP and the 21st ranked PK.

The lineup question marks surround Neal Pionk and whether he’s ready to return from a lower-body injury. If he is unable to play the presumption is Elias Salomonsson will get a second straight game after he made his NHL debut against the Capitals in Washington on Wednesday. Speaking of NHL debuts, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press is speculating that goalie prospect Thomas Milic (2023 5th) will be making his this evening.

Skate news:

No morning skate.

Warm-up skate news:

Starts at 3:30 PM CST.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Salamonsson
Stanley-Miller

Milic

Hurricanes projected lines & D pairs:

Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Ehlers – Stankoven – Blake
Carrier – Staal – Martinook
Hall – Jankowski – Robinson

Gostisbehere – Chatfield
Miller – Walker
Nikishin – Nystrom

Andersen

Odds:

Carolina comes in after back-to-back losses although the oddsmakers have made the Hurricanes big favorites over the Jets. Winnipeg, meanwhile, is trying to end a three-game skid. The question is whether the Jets can capitalize minimize the mistakes and get back to connected hockey or if the Hurricanes will bounce back with a strong, disciplined effort. For the latest Winnipeg Jets hockey odds, visit NHL betting site Betway.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 4 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 6:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.