Game 57: Winnipeg Jets vs Vancouver Canucks pre-game report

It was a very informative practice day in Winnipeg on Tuesday as they got ready for today’s game in Vancouver against the Canucks. We learned that the team would be without Nino Niederreiter and Neal Pionk as both are listed as week-to-week while they were hopeful that Josh Morrissey would be available to them next week. Head coach Scott Arniel confirmed that Tanner Pearson would replace Niederreiter. We also know that Eric Comrie will get the start in net as the Jets look to kick off the post-Olympic break with two points.

As bad as things have gone for the visitors the home team are in even more dire straights as the Canucks sit dead last in the entire NHL with seven fewer points than the 31st place team. They “boast” a 6-17-4 record at home. They are 2-7-1 in their last ten games. And the players and fan base have to tolerate constant trade rumours swirling around their hockey club.

When it comes to special teams that is not something to be lauded for Vancouver as the power play ranks 23rd overall while the penalty kill is dead last. Not that they are particularly formidable for Winnipeg who sit 18th overall when it comes to PP and 20th overall on the PK.

Skate news:

According to Connor Hrabchak of WST the only change from yesterday is Niederreiter is out and Pearson comes in (as expected) on the fourth line with Gus Nyquist jumping up to the third line.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Perfetti-Lowry-Iafallo
Nyquist-Toews-Namestnikov
Koepke-Barron-Pearson

Stanley-DeMelo
Samberg-Salomonsson
Heinola-Schenn

Comrie

Canucks projected lines & D pairs:

Kane-EP40-DeBrusk
O’Connor-Rossi-Boeser
Öhgren-Blueger-Garland
Höglander-Kämpf-Karlsson

DPetey-Hronek
Buium-Myers
MPett-Willander

Tolopilo

The lines and D pairs come via Jeff Paterson who covers Vancouver.

Coach media availability:

Odds:

The Jets carry a modest edge on paper, but the Canucks could surprise at home. With both sides struggling, it’s a matchup where inconsistency and mistakes are likely to shape the final score.. For the latest Winnipeg Jets hockey odds, visit NHL betting site Betway.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 9 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 11:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.