Game 57: Jets vs. Rangers pre-game report

The Jets put a three game losing streak behind them with a big 3-1 win on Sunday over the Buffalo Sabres and today they will face another New York based team as they welcome the Rangers to town.  The Blueshirts currently sit in the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference and well out of a playoff spot (nine points) but come into today’s game with a record of 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

Will Dmitry Kulikov be ready to return from the upper-body injury that has cost him the last couple of games?  For now the projected lines listed below is simply based on the last game.

Pre-Skate News:

The Jets announced they have reassigned Sami Niku to the Manitoba Moose which appears to answer the question above.

AM Skate:

All active roster players are on the ice according to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun including Dmitry Kulikov.  Ken confirms that Hellebuyck will start in net but it looks like Dmitry Kulikov will need some more time as Scott Billeck, who also writes for the Sun, confirms he stayed on for extra work.

Jets projected lines, D pairs and starting goalie:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Laine-Little-Roslovic
Perreault-Lowry-Tanev
Lemieux-Copp-Appleton

Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Morrow-Myers

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Audio:

Adam Lowry

Kyle Connor

Coach Maurice:  Nikolaj Ehlers status.  Same lineup?  His thoughts on the Rangers.  Update on Kulikov.  What are his plans for Brossoit this week?  Do his conversations with Kevin Cheveldayoff increase as trade deadline approaches?  How have the young players pushed (in the last two months) and how have they impacted his decision making.  What does he think about the power play so far?  On the “adversity” of the last week.  On moving Laine off the top PP with the threat he brings, which forces the oppositions PK to be more honest.   What did he think of Laine’s road trip?

All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health News:

Coach Maurice on the status of Nikolaj Ehlers “He’s coming to that window that we’re hoping to get him back on the ice in full practice, maybe there’s a chance he plays in game three of this homestand, I’m not working under the impression that we push for that but we’re hopeful.  We’ve got a three day block there, our last one of the season, that we can get him back on the ice and we may see him on the road trip.”

The coach also indicated that he is going to try to give Dmitry Kulikov some more time to recover because they have a healthy D core.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7:00 pm CT.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game audio from the Jets room as well as from coach Maurice.