Game 59: Jets vs. Senators pre-game report

The Jets held another optional practice on Friday as they got ready to face the Senators.  We learned that Joe Morrow would be out of the lineup for 2-3 weeks after suffering an injury in a scrap that ended the game against the Avalanche on Thursday night.  Just prior to last night’s Moose game the team announced that Sami Niku had been recalled by the Jets.

AM Skate:

According to Brian Munz of TSN 1290 Winnipeg the recently recalled Sami Niku is paired with Ben Chiarot and Dustin Byfuglien isn’t skating. Looks like Laurent Brossoit will get the start in net according to Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun who also confirms that Chiarot will be paired with Niku.

Jets projected lines, D pairs and starting goalie:

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

Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Niku
Kulikov-Myers

Brossoit
Hellebuyck

Audio:

Mark Scheifele

Ben Chiarot

Sami Niku

Coach Maurice:  Update on Byfuglien.  Inserting Niku into the lineup.  On the Byfuglien injury.  On players “excitement” about their club making a move.  Is his job any more difficult as it gets closer to Trade Deadline?  On his confidence in Brossoit.  What would he like to see his team do better defensively against Ottawa today that they didn’t do last week against the Senators?  Would he care to share his thoughts about Mark Stone?  On Chiarot mentoring Niku.

All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health News:

According to Coach Maurice the team will be without Dustin Byfuglien for today’s game.   It is a lower-body injury but not a re-aggravation of the previous injury.  Expected to return for next game in Colorado.

Recalled:

The Jets announced this afternoon that they have recalled Tucker Poolman.  They placed Joe Morrow on IR.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6:00 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.