Game 55: Winnipeg Jets vs Carolina Hurricanes pre-game report

When you’ve won six straight games as the Jets have done it didn’t seem very likely that they were going to make any lineup changes. Based on how things looked Monday at practice as they prepared to face the Hurricanes it didn’t appear head coach Scott Arniel was about to change his winning formula. Not unexpectedly we didn’t see either Adam Lowry or Morgan Barron on the ice yesterday and it seems unlikely either player returns before the 4 Nations break which for Winnipeg starts on Saturday.

The Hurricanes were last in action on Saturday at home which saw them lose to the Kings. However they are 6-2-2 in their last ten games and sit just seven point back of the Capitals for top spot in the entire Eastern Conference. Interestingly they are much better at home (20-6-1) then they are on the road (12-11-3).

This game pits strength vs strength when it comes to the special teams battle. Winnipeg features the top power play in the entire NHL (8 PPG in last 15 games) against the best penalty kill in the league (they haven’t given up a PKG in their last seven games as per the Hurricanes game notes). Conversely neither team boasts a particularly strong where the other does. Jets penalty kill is 16th overall while the Hurricanes power play is 21st overall.

Skate news:

No changes to the lines or D pairs today at morning skate. Worth noting that Eric Comrie was the first goalie off but head coach Scott Arniel wasn’t prepared to commit to him as the starter.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Ehlers – Namestnikov – Perfetti
Niederreiter – Kupari – Appleton
Iafallo – Gustafsson – Ford

Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Miller

Comrie
Hellebuyck

Hurricanes projected lines & D pairs:

Rantanen – Aho – Blake
Hall – Kotkaniemi – Svechnikov
Martinook – Staal – Jarvis
Robinson – Jaaska – Roslovic

Slavin – Burns
Orlov – Chatfield
Gostisbehere – Walker

Kochetkov & Andersen

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Starting goalie tonight?
2) Pace of the Hurricanes (:14)
3) Mikko Rantanen with Carolina (:49)
4) Thoughts on Seth Jarvis (1:19)
5) Latest on Adam Lowry and Morgan Barron (2:19)
6) What characteristics does Connor Hellebuyck share with other elite goalies? How is he unique? (3:23)
7) Hellebuyck’s ability to recharge mentally and physically to maintain his elite level (4:24)

Health update:

Adam Lowry and Morgan Barron both remain off the ice as per head coach Scott Arniel.

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 around9:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.