Game 64: Jets vs. Predators pre-game report

A battle for 1st place in the Central although that seems like less of a focus as two teams looking to get their games going against a division rival.  For now the projected lines and D pairs are based on yesterday’s practice and they will be updated (if need be) once skate gets underway.

Pre-Skate News:

The Jets announced that they have recalled Eric Comrie on an emergency basis.  The Moose are in Belleville to play the Senators tonight.  For those who haven’t been as focused on the farm club Comrie has been having an excellent season for Manitoba.

Morning Skate:

As per correspondent for the NHL.com Scott Billeck the mystery of Comrie’s recall appears to have been solved with Laurent Brossoit coming out for skate at Bell MTS Place and no sign of Connor Hellebuyck.  Scott also indicates that defecenman Bogdan Kiselevich, who was dealing with an illness, has joined his new teammates for morning skate.

Jets projected lines, D pairs:

Laine – Scheifele – Wheeler
Connor – Hayes – Ehlers
Tanev – Lowry – Little
Perreault – Copp – Roslovic

Beaulieu – Trouba
Kulikov – Myers
Chiarot – Niku

Brossoit
Comrie

Audio:

Jacob Trouba

Patrik Laine

Mark Scheifele

Coach Maurice:  Status of Hellebuyck?  What is he expecting from the Predators?  What will it take for Kiselevich to get into the lineup?  Is the team dealing with an illness?  How much of the rivalry between these two teams was created in the playoffs?  Did you learn things about players in a game like this?

All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg

Health Update:

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is ill.  He came to the rink according to coach Maurice, ate but then went home and he won’t backup Brossoit.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7 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.