Game 31: Jets vs. Canucks pre-game report

The Jets are back at the friendly confines of Bell MTS Place where they are looking to overcome last week’s 0-2-1 road trip.  They will put their 10-2-1 home record up against a surprising Canucks team who have proven to be solid  on the road (9-6-1) this season.

We will keep our eyes on Jets morning skate to see the status of Dustin Byfuglien who didn’t finish the game in Tampa and we will await word on the latest with goalie Steve Mason.

Morning skate notes:

According to Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun no Dustin Byfuglien or Blake Wheeler on the ice for the Jets today.  Ken Wiebe, also of the Sun, indicated that Shawn Matthias filled in for Wheeler on line rushes so that is likely just maintenance for the Jets captain.  He also said that Steve Mason is also on the ice for today’s skate.

Health Update:

Dustin Byfuglien is week-to-week as per coach Maurice and he hopes to get him back around Christmas.  With respect to Steve Mason the Jets are being careful with it but it sounds like he is ready to go and the team is just being cautious.  Update: Jets announce that Steve Mason is off IR and that Eric Comrie will be returned to the Manitoba Moose.

Jets projected lines, D Pairs:

Connor – Scheifele – Wheeler
Ehlers – Little – Laine
Copp – Lowry – Tanev
Perreault – Hendricks – Armia

Morrissey – Trouba
Chiarot – Poolman
Kulikov – Myers

Hellebuyck
Mason

Extras:  Matthias & Dano.

Audio:

Adam Lowry

Josh Morrissey

Coach Maurice:  Status of Dustin Byfuglien.  Poolman goes in.  Does he have troops to weather storm without Byfuglien/Enstrom?  Update on Steve Mason.  On the Jets schedule and lack of practice time.  Thoughts on the 2nd line.  With he put Trouba into the first power play unit?  On Trouba’s ability to get his shot through from the top.  Growth in the game of Andrew Copp.  What do they lose when 33 isn’t in the lineup?  What was missing from Ben Chiarot’s game in Tampa?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.