The Jets have dug themselves a hole as they slid into the break on a four-game losing streak. Add to that a game to start the post-break portion of the schedule against the big, bad Bruins and followed by a game the next night against the Blues and it is a recipe for as tough a start as you could expect.
While Mark Scheifele didn’t skate on Thursday as he was traveling back to Winnipeg he is expected to be in the lineup tonight. We also learned that Lauren Brossoit will start in net. The Jets long list of skating wounded is not quite ready to get reduced.
Morning Skate News:
As per Ken Wiebe of The Athletic Winnipeg confirms that the lines and D pairs remain the same as they were yesterday.
Jets Projected Lines & D Pairs:
Connor-Scheifele-Laine
Ehlers-Wheeler-Appleton
Perreault-Copp-Roslovic
Harkins-Shore-Bourque
Morrissey-Pionk
Kulikov-Niku
Bitetto-Sbisa
Brossoit
Hellebuyck
Bruins Projected Lines & D Pairs:
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Coyle-Bjork
Heinen-Krejci-Kuhlman
Nordstrom-Kuraly-Wagner
Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Lauzon
Rask
Via Marisa Ingemi of the Boston Herald.
Audio:
Patrik Laine on the key to being ready to go after a layoff, looking ahead not backwards, the next few games, whether there is anything they can take from their last game vs Bruins, what he needs to do to help team win.
Josh Morrissey on the key to coming out the right way following a layoff, whether it was harder to get away from the thoughts of hockey considering how the pre-break schedule went and whether he is watching the standings and scoreboard?
Coach Maurice: What does he like about Mason Appleton up on the second line? On Patrik Laine’s development. When Pionk was acquired was pairing him with Morrissey something he considered from the start? What does he like about the pairing? Mark Scheifele playing in his 500th NHL game and what is the next step in his development? Lack of power play success. Missing Byfuglien assisting with development of younger players. More on Laine’s growth.
Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.
Milestone Night:
Jets centre and first ever draft pick back in 2011 Mark Scheifele will play in his 500th NHL game.
Up Next:
Puck drop is at 7:00 PM CST. 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.
