Game 57: Jets vs Lightning pre-game report

The Jets have secured three of a possible six points so far on this four-game homestand which would be fine if they had more points in their standings bank but when you need to leapfrog four teams that just won’t cut it. And good news for Winnipeg they face a Tampa Bay team that are 8-2-0 in their last ten games and have a winning percentage of .727%.

Seems likely that Nikolaj Ehlers should be ready to return to a top six role after his successful return to the lineup. Also there is the question of the Jets making a recall on D although they’d have to make a corresponding move to ensure cap compliance.

Will the Jets go back with Connor Hellebuyck or give a fresh Eric Comrie the start in net?

Morning skate:

As per Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun goalie Connor Hellebuyck is doing his usual routine for when he starts a game. Neither Dominic Toninato nor Neal Pionk are skating this morning but that has become the norm of late and unless otherwise stated by interim head coach Dave Lowry the two are expected to play.

Update:

Jets interim head coach Dave Lowry confirms that Neal Pionk and Dominic Toninato are both playing tonight.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Stastny-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Dubois-Svechnikov
Copp-Lowry-Ehlers
Vesalainen-Toninato-Harkins

Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Stanley-Schmidt

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Health news:

The Jets interim bench boss also confirmed that neither Cole Perfetti nor Kristian Reichel are skating on their own.

Player media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Whether Tampa still gets his “motor running” given the history from 2004?
2) What has he seen the Lightning do to set an example for other teams?
3) Status of Neal Pionk and Dominic Toninato?
4) Evgeny Svechnikov’s evolution on this team.
5) Trying to get the 4th line more minutes.
6) Is Connor Hellebuyck playing too much?
7) Will he change up the D pairings?
8) Is it fair to say Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t been himself this year?
9) Svechnikov playing with a physical edge.
10) Status of Cole Perfetti and Kristian Reichel?
11) Pierre-Luc Dubois shot volume.

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 which includes post-game interviews from Jets players as well as from interim head coach Dave Lowry.

You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show. (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).