Blake Wheeler and Jacob Trouba didn’t skate this morning but coach Maurice confirmed that both are fine and playing. Tobias Enstrom who took a nasty fall in the 1st period on Tuesday against the Sharks practiced this morning in a normal uniform and will also play tonight according to the Jets bench boss. Connor Hellebuyck will make his first start since January 13th.
Projected lines, D pairs and starting goalie:
Copp-Scheifele-Wheeler
Ehlers-Little-Laine
Matthias-Lowry-Armia
Tanev-Petan-Thorburn
Morrissey-Byfuglien
Enstrom-Trouba
Stuart-Postma
Hellebuyck
Pavelec
Audio:
Josh Morrissey: On facing a snarly Hawks team. Having to be perfect when you face a team like Chicago. Why have they had such good success against the Hawks? On how eager Hellebuyck is to be back in the net.
Patrik Laine: On the All-Star weekend. Anyone he is looking forward to meeting this weekend? Reflections on the season. How does he feel 48 hours after his first game in awhile? On what was lacking in his first game back? What stands out about the year? Is there a part of his game that has improved since October? Any surprises this season? On the 3 on 3 format of All-Star game. Will he be in the hardest shot competition? Was cracking the All-Star game on his radar? On the Marleau goal and learning from that mistake. Who from his family are going to L.A.? What will it be like to share that with his dad? On representing the Winnipeg community.
Coach Maurice: Status of Enstrom. Wheeler/Trouba fine? What is he hoping to see from Hellebuyck? Does his history against the Hawks weigh in on why he gets the start? Did he learn anything about Hellebuyck in last couple of weeks? Why do they have so much success against Chicago? What does he hope Laine take from the All-Star weekend? Any opinion on the goalie pants? Where has he seen the growth in Ehlers game? On Laine’s transition to the NHL game. Benefit to learning from the All-Stars.
All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.
We also take a look at the composition of the Blackhawks projected lines, D pairs and starting goalie via Brian Munz of TSN 1290 Winnipeg:
Hartman-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Schmaltz-Kruger-Hossa
Hinostroza-Kero-Desjardins
Keith-Hjalmarsson
Kempny-Seabrook
Campbell-van Riemsdyk
Darling
Crawford
