Game 50: Winnipeg Jets vs Utah Hockey Club pre-game report

The Jets used Thursday as a travel day following their quick two game trip out west which saw them fall 5-2 to Utah before rebounding with a 3-2 OT win over Colorado. Five days later they have a chance to get a measure of revenge against the Hockey Club that plays in Salt Lake City. They are without captain Adam Lowry who we learned is out week to week after suffering an injury against them in the 1st period. As of right now Winnipeg is sitting with 12 healthy forwards as they returned Moose captain Dominic Toninato to their AHL affiliate on Thursday evening. Might they make a recall? With Manitoba in town there isn’t any urgency. The only real lineup question seems to be what will they do with their third D pairings and which goalie gets the start?

Utah was in Minnesota last night where they did the Jets a favour by defeating the Wild by a final score of 4-0. That was their third straight win which have all come against Central Division opponents. They used the same lineup last night in St. Paul that they did against the Jets in Salt Lake City with the exception that Karel Vejmelka was in goal which means Connor Ingram, who Winnipeg faced on Monday, will likely get the net tonight.

The visitors bring an excellent road record (13-8-3) to Canada Life Centre where the home team has an excellent home record (18-5-3) which should make for an entertaining contest.

Recall news:

The Jets announced they have recalled 2022 1st rounder Brad Lambert up from the Moose. It’s his second recall this season.

Skate news:

Brad Lambert skating on the 4th line at centre but no Nikolaj Ehlers.

Health update:

As per Scott Arniel winger Nikolaj Ehlers is dealing with illness so if he cannot play than Brad Lambert goes in.

Warm-up news:

Both Nikolaj Ehlers and Brad Lambert were on the ice but when line rushes got underway it was Ehlers on the second line and Lambert as the 13th forward.

Winnipeg projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Kupari-Appleton
Barron-Gustafsson-Iafallo

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Stanley

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Utah projected lines & D pairs:

Keller -Cooley – Schmaltz
Maccelli – Hayton – Doan
McBain – Bjugstad – Crouse
Carcone – Stenlund – Kerfoot

Maatta – Marino
Cole – Kesselring
Valmaki – DeSimone

Ingram
Vejmelka

Only changes as per Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune is Carcone in for O’Brien on the 4th line and she confirms that Connor Ingram starts.

Player media:

Coach media:

Topics:

1) Update on Nikolaj Ehlers
2) What can Cole Perfetti bring to PP1? (:11)
3) Response game vs Utah (:29)
4) Lambert up in case 27 can’t go (:55)
5) What is he seeing from Cole Perfetti? (1:14)
6) What is helping Perfetti the most? (1:52)
7) What is he hoping to see from Brad Lambert if he plays? (2:52)
8) Puck recovery on the power play (3:20)
9) Adjustments to be made vs Utah (4:31)

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7 PM CST. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. You can join us on our YouTube channel for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 9:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.