Game 54: Jets vs Kraken pre-game report

The Jets welcome a Kraken team that, despite winning their last game, have gone 4-5-1 in their last ten games. Winnipeg is expected to get Dylan DeMelo back in the lineup after the steady defenceman missed the last three games.

Skate news:

As per Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet a few players taking the optional this morning including goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Brenden Dillon, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nikolaj Ehlers although he notes that David Rittich came off early. He added that the guys staying on for extra work were Sam Gagner, Logan Stanley and Kyle Capobianco.

Health update:

Connor Hellebuyck is a little bit under the weather according to head coach Rick Bowness. He said that there is a good chance David Rittich is in net tonight. He added that the other players not skating were simply exercising their option.

Warm-up skate:

Just before warm-up skate gets underway here in Winnipeg the Jets announce that they have recalled Arvid Holm from the Moose on an emergency basis with Connor Hellebuyck under the weather. Which makes David Rittich your starter vs Kraken.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-DeMelo
Samberg-Schmidt

Rittich
Holm

Betway Odds:

Seattle won their last game but have dropped three of their last four contests. Despite their poor record in the last few games they have the sixth best road record (17-8-2) in the NHL coming into tonight’s game. Of course Winnipeg counters that with the fourth best home record (19-8-0) in the NHL. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Player media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) What the Kraken bring?
2) Power play success against Seattle.
3) Updates on Connor Hellebuyck and other missing players.
4) Changes to the way the Kraken have tightened things up.
5) Good team to face out of the break.
6) Does he still jog after morning skate?
7) Jamie Oleksiak parallel to Logan Stanley.

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 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).