Game 61: Winnipeg Jets vs Seattle Kraken pre-game report

The Jets returned to Manitoba after sweeping their two games over the weekend which meant they went 2-1-0 during their three-game road trip which was enough to give them the second best winning percentage in the NHL. They had Monday off after back-to-back games. This Winnipeg team has won nine of their last 11 games and they remain the stingiest team to play against giving up the least amount of goals in the league.

After a solid second season in the NHL the Kraken don’t look like they’ll be a playoff contender which saw the NHL’s newest franchise make it to the second round last postseason including taking the series to seven games. They sit well back of the Kings and Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. They also chose to sit Alex Wennberg for trade related protection. Last night they played in Calgary and defeated the Flames by a final score of 4-2 although the game didn’t end till almost 11:30 PM CST and then, when you add two hours of flight time, it means they probably didn’t get to the city until well after 2 AM CST.

The big question mark ahead of the game is the health status of Gabriel Vilardi who didn’t play either game this weekend and was, in fact, sent home to Winnipeg for further evaluation. If he doesn’t take part in morning skate we would expect an update from head coach Rick Bowness afterwards so stay tuned for that.

Morning Skate:

Looks like it’s an optional morning skate. Missing: Scheifele (who was skating and then left), Vilardi, Monahan, Ehlers, Appleton, Lowry & Dillon.

Practice goalie Jason Kasdorf was in for Laurent Brossoit.

Health update:

Head coach Rick Bowness confirms Gabriel Vilardi won’t play this evening. He did indicate he will be on the road trip. He also added that Nate Schmidt comes out for Logan Stanley as the veteran blueliner was hit hard by the flu.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Namestnikov
Ehlers-Monahan-Iafallo
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Gustafsson-Perfetti

Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Stanley

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Player media:

Coach media:

Topics covered included:
1) Maintaining focus ahead of trade deadline.
2) The flu bug that is going through the room (1:00)
3) What’s the update on Gabriel Vilardi? (1:45)
4) Does he have a trade deadline wish list? (2:02)
5) Is anyone else questionable for tnt? (2:07)
6) Key against a Kraken team that played late last night (2:40)
7) Upper body for Vilardi? Has he skated? (3:26)
8) Sense of anticipation ahead of trade deadline? (3:34)
9) Extremes amongst different positions ahead of trade deadline? (3:59)
10) Nikolaj Ehlers bouncing between lines (4:33)
11) When things aren’t going for 27 (5:44)
12) Plays that may have cost Ehlers in 2nd period? (6:21)

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. Reminder to join us on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show following the final buzzer between the Jets and Kraken.