Game 53: Jets vs Blackhawks pre-game report

The Jets have been off since their last game before the All-Star break (vs the Blues Jan 30th) whereas the Hawks will be playing their third game in the last four days.

Only change for Winnipeg expected to be Mason Appleton returning to the lineup after being out since November with a wrist injury.

Skate news:

As per Mitchell Clinton of the Jets the game tonight will indeed see the return of Mason Appleton to the lineup. He provides the lines and D pairs below. Also he noted that Dylan DeMelo skated in a non-contact uniform while David Gustafsson skated on his own before morning skate.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Dubois-Perfetti
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Barron-Lowry-Kuhlman
Maenalanen-Stenlund-Appleton

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-Samberg
Stanley-Schmidt

Hellebuyck
Rittich

Betway Odds:

Jets are the big favourites which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given where these two teams sit in the standigns. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Player media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Guys ready to go for the 9 pm start.
2) Lines & D pairs as illustrated in practice/Am skate? (:51)
3) Going with Stanley over Capobianco (1:18)
4) Brad Lauer status? (2:09)
5) Tweaks to the power play (2:44)
6) Ehlers use on power play (3:28)
7) Updates with Gustafsson & DeMelo (4:27)
8) How does he speed up shaking off the rust? (4:52)

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 9:00 pm CST.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interviews from Jets players as well as from head coach Rick Bowness.

You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button). This season you’ll have a chance to win great schwag including authentic Jets jerseys, hats, etc after every single game (For a variety of ways to enter click here).