Game 56: Winnipeg Jets vs New York Islanders pre-game report

The Jets will be looking for their eighth straight win tonight in Winnipeg when they take on the Islanders and wrap up their pre 4 Nations portion of the schedule. It would be their second eight game win streak of the season. Given they don’t play another game until the 22nd it will be important to end on a high note before the team disperses for some rest and relaxation (and healing). We aren’t expecting any changes (aside from in net) based on how things looked at practice on Thursday. A single point this evening would mean the Jets would be the first team to hit 80 points this season.

While it might be frigid outside the Jets have been hot at home going 21-5-3 inside Canada Life Centre making it the most inhospitable arena in the NHL for their opponent. While New York is just two games above .500 both at home and on the road this team, like Winnipeg, has also been very good of late going 8-2-0 in their last ten games. While they don’t score a ton (27th) they have been stingy (10th least goals against). Special teams have been woeful for the visitors as they sit with the 32nd ranked power play and the 31st ranked penalty kill. Given the home team’s power play is currently clicking at a historic percentage they better do their best to stay out of the box based on this disparity.

Skate news:

Looks like there will be one change as Brad Lambert draws in for Parker Ford.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Miller

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Islanders projected lines & D pairs:

Lee – Horvat – Duclair
Tsyplakov – Nelson – Palmieri
Cizikas – Pageau – Holmstrom
Engvall – MacLean – Gatcomb

Romanov – DeAngelo
Pelech – Perunovich
Cholowski – Boqvist

Sorokin
Skarek

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Are they playing as well or better now than when they started season?
2) Brad Lambert drawing into the lineup (:46)
3) Getting him onto the 4th line (1:12)
4) How does depth factor into trade deadline? (1:41)
5) Pros/Cons of long break when team is hot (2:45)
6) Why add when you’re humming along? (4:11)
7) Not wanting to upset team chemistry (4:41)
8) Team Canada touching base on Mark Scheifele (4:53)

Special edition of Illegal Curve Hockey:

Up Next:

Join us at 12 noon for a special edition of Illegal Curve Hockey at Cityplace. If you cannot come say hello in person then be sure to check us out on our YouTube channel.

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 around 9:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.

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