Game 30: Jets vs. Blackhawks pre-game report

Some questions ahead of today’s game against the Blackhawks here in Winnipeg as the Jets were missing some players from yesterday’s practice at Bell MTS Place.  We should learn more once AM skate gets underway.

For now the projected lines and D pairs are based on the last game.

Standings:

The Jets are 18-9-2 on the season which remains good enough for 3rd spot in the Central Division.  They are just one point back of 1st place Nashville/Colorado (with one game in hand on both teams) and sit three points up on Dallas who holds the first wild card spot (Wpg also has one game in hand on the Stars).

Morning Skate:

As per Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun it looks like Mathieu Perreault is “on the ice and moving well, so early indications are he will be good to go tonight”.  Ken also indicated that Joe Morrow has shed his non-contact uniform which he suggests is “Another step on the road to recovery, but likely still needs a few more days (and some actual contact in practice) before he’s ready for game action.”.  Lastly, Ken adds that Laurent Brossoit is first goalie off the ice and will start against Chicago.

Jets lines and D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Kulikov-Myers

Brossoit
Hellebuyck

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Adam Lowry

Coach Maurice:  On giving Laurent Brossoit the start tonight.  Does he expect Perreault to play tonight?  Any changes to the lineup?  Are the Hawks more dangerous due to their desperation?  On preparing the team knowing the way teams are now preparing to face the Jets.  What is next for Joe Morrow?  Status of Andrew Copp?

All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health Update:

The coach confirmed that Mathieu Perreault is fine after he took quite a hit in the last game against the Flyers and would be playing tonight.  Regarding Joe Morrow, who shed the non-contact uniform, the Jets bench boss indicated “Probably three or four days of pushing that a little harder.  The contact is not an issue but we’re still not driving him into the ice yet.  He hasn’t gone through that process.  That’s what next.”  With respect to the status of Andrew Copp who wasn’t skating today, coach Maurice said “Good day today.  I don’t have one for you.  I’d move him closer, progressing well, we’re happy with where he is today.”.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7 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.