Game 27: Jets vs Capitals pre-game report

The Jets enter play tonight having won four straight games and sitting atop the Central Division. They are dealing with some more injuries as they lost Logan Stanley and Saku Maenalanen during their short, two-game road trip. We shall have to wait and see if they make any recalls although conventional wisdom would suggest that Dylan Samberg will return to the lineup.  They’ve got Kyle Capobianco as the 7th defenceman and they likely recall one (or two) forwards from the Moose if the news about Maenalanen isn’t good.

For now the projected lines will be based on last game (with exception that Connor Hellebuyck expected to start).

Skate news:

As per Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun it is an optional skate this morning. He indicated that Lowry, Dubois, Dillon, Schmidt, Pionk as well as Stanley and Maenalanen are not skating. He did confirm that Connor Hellebuyck is starting.

Lineup update:

Associate coach Scott Arniel didn’t provide an update on Stanley or Maenalanen aside from saying they were being evaluated. He did indicate they are looking to make a recall from the Moose.

Lineup update II:

Jets placed Logan Stanley & Saku Maenalanen on injured reserve..

Recall news:

The Jets announced that they have recalled Kevin Stenlund from Manitoba. Interestingly Stenlund took line rushes but ultimately didn’t take part in line rushes.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Schmidt

Hellebuyck
Rittich

Betway Odds:

The Capitals have been battling injuries as they try to fight to get above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference where they currently sit three points back of the Rangers for the second wild card spot. Meanwhile the Jets are sitting in top spot in the Central with the best winning % in the Western Conference. The goal differential has Winnipeg sitting at +23 while Washington is currently -5. The oddsmakers give the home team the edge in this contest. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Updates on Logan Stanley and Saku Maenalanen?
2) Will they make a recall? (:28)
3) Facing his former club (1:04)
4) Alex Ovechkin’s ability (1:55)
5) Lesson of becoming complete player here in Winnipeg (3:00)
6) What he saw in Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (3:50)
7) Keeping shifts shorts (5:00)
8) How he runs the D (6:13)
9) Does Samberg come in for Stanley? (7:09)
10) Axel Jonsson-Fjallby lengthening his stick (7:20)

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6:00 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).