Game 24: Jets vs. Blackhawks pre-game report

Questions abound ahead of tonight’s game against division rival Chicago.  The Jets were missing Mark Scheifele, Dustin Byfuglien and Joe Morrow from practice on Wednesday and while coach Maurice indicated that he expects all three to play tonight the team did announce that they recalled Cameron Schilling from the Moose.  Might we see Sami Niku make his NHL season debut?  What about Mason Appleton possibly making his NHL  debut?  Stay tuned.

AM skate:

According to Jamie Thomas of Jets TV the team is still without Dustin Byfuglien and Joe Morrow for practice although Mark Scheifele who missed skate on Wednesday is back on the ice as is recently recalled defenceman Cameron Schilling.

The Jets are pairing Sami Niku and Cam Schilling according to Scott Billeck of NHL.com who also indicated that Andrew Copp remains in a yellow non-contact jersey.  For what it is worth Niku and Schilling haven’t been paired up at all this season with the Moose. They did finish the 2017-18 regular season as a tandem (but didn’t play together in the playoffs).

Updated Jets lines, D pairs and goalie:

Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Little-Laine
Perreault-Lowry-Tanev
Lemieux-Roslovic-Petan

Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Niku
Schilling-Myers

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Audio:

Cameron Schilling

Sami Niku

Mark Scheifele

Coach Maurice:  Update on Joe Morrow/Dustin Byfuglien.  Status of Byfuglien.  Pairing of Niku and Schilling.  On Schilling’s experience.  What are the benefits to Niku being around the team?  What has he noticed about the Hawks since the coaching change?  On not seeing coach Q on the Hawks bench.  What has he thought of Ehlers play defensively since he joined the top line?  How would he assess the team’s overall defensively game this season?  Would he consider using Morrissey and Trouba as “mentors” for the new guys in the lineup?

All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health news:

With no Joe Morrow or Dustin Byfuglien at morning skate you knew that would be the first topic up for Jets bench boss Paul Maurice in his availability.  He indicated that “Joe’s out lower-body, day-to-day, I don’t think it’s going to be long term.  Yesterday afternoon Dustin developed symptoms so he’ll get checked by the doctor today.”.

Up next:

Puck drop is at 7:00 PM.  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.