Game 27: Jets vs. Senators pre-game report

The red-hot Jets finish off this two-game home stand looking to build upon their scorching hot 9-2-1 record at Bell MTS Place with tonight’s game against a Senators team that has stumbled of late going 3-6-1 in their last 10.  Coach Maurice announced during yesterday’s availability that Connor Hellebuyck would make his fourth straight start between the pipes.

Morning skate notes:

Kyle Connor wasn’t at the morning skate according to NHL correspondent Scott Billeck.

Health Update:

Coach Maurice was asked about Kyle Connor and indicated that “He won’t play today.  We’ll list him as day-to-day, we don’t think it’s serious, get a few more tests this afternoon to confirm that.  We’re hopeful that he’s ready for Detroit (on Tuesday).”  When asked if it was related to the shot block from the game against Vegas coach Maurice said “possibly”.

Jets projected lines, D Pairs and  starting goalie:

Perreault-Scheifele-Wheeler
Ehlers-Little-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Tanev
Matthias-Hendricks-Armia

Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Kulikov-Myers

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Extras:  Dano, Poolman.

Coach Maurice indicated that it could either be Perreault or Ehlers up on the top line.

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Mathieu Perreault

Patrik Laine

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg

Coach pre-game:

Scrum Topics:  Status of Kyle Connor.  Related to the shot block?  What is he looking for from Perreault jumping onto the top line.  How has Shawn Matthias handled the absence?  On possibly sending Poolman down to the Moose to get a game or two in.  What he has learned about the Senators?

Senators projected lines, D Pairs and  starting goalie:

Ryan-Brassard-Stone
Dzingel-Pageau-Pyatt
Smith-Duchene-Hoffman
Burrows-Dumont-Thompson

Claesson-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Chabot
Oduya-Ceci/Harpur

Condon
Anderson

Above info on the Sens via Ottawa beat writer for the Ottawa Sun Bruce Garrioch.