Game 64: Jets vs Sharks pre-game report

With 19 games remaining on the schedule for the Jets they get set to take the Sharks on for the first time this season. They will face San Jose a total of three times during this final stretch.

The home team is coming off an important win against the Oilers on Saturday night as they attempt to arrest their fall down the standings and start to push back into the Central Division race. With Colorado earning a point in an OT loss last night the Jets slipped back into the second wild card spot which highlights the importance of these contests.

Biggest question marks for Winnipeg are the health of Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mason Appleton who have both missed the last few games, which included the team putting Appleton on IR retroactive to last Sunday which makes him eligible to return (provided he is healthy) today.

The other unknowns surround the healthy scratches and specifically whether Rick Bowness keeps Nate Schmidt out after the veteran didn’t play against Edmonton on Saturday night. They also sat Logan Stanley and Karson Kuhlman but neither player is expected to play tonight.

Lastly, might this game become known as the Vladislav Namestnikov revenge game after the veteran forward was dealt by San Jose to Winnipeg just four days after he was acquired from the Lightning for former Jets/Moose forward Mikey Eyssimont. He was told by the Sharks to remain in Tampa as he was expected to be dealt which ultimately he was to Winnipeg on Friday.

Skate news:

As per Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet both Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mason Appleton are in regular uniforms for the Jets. No Kyle Capobianco today at morning skate according to Wieber who also indicated that David Rittich took shots in the starter’s net. Lines and D pairs as per him.

Lineup news:

Rick Bowness confirms that both Mason Appleton and Pierre-Luc Dubois return tonight for the Jets tonight. Nate Schmidt returns. Kyle Capobianco is under the weather.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Niederreiter
Ehlers-Dubois-Wheeler
Barron-Lowry-Namestnikov
Maenalanen-Stenlund-Appleton

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-DeMelo
Samberg-Schmidt

Rittich
Hellebuyck

Betway Odds:

The Sharks limp into Winnipeg having lost three straight games and sitting just one point ahead of Chicago for last place in the Western Conference. They are a woeful 12-15-4 away from the Shark Tank with a -54 goal differential on the season. They are 2-7-1 in their last ten and given the way they sold assets ahead of the Trade Deadline, they are more focused on securing the services of first overall pick at the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft Connor Beddard than they are about winning games this season. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Lineup decisions.
2) Nikolaj Ehlers usage/season. (1:20)
3) Ehlers recovery from sports hernia surgery (2:10)
4) Is he having a tough time finding a spot for 27? (2:56)
5) Ehlers value in zone entries (3:47)
6) Where is he seeing a lack in Ehlers game? (4:25)
7) What does he like from the 27-80-26 combo? (5:17)
8) What does he like about 55 and 62 paired together? (5:53)
9) Is he at point in schedule need to ice best 18 vs keeping guys fresh? (6:51)
10) Will it be difficult to muster up the same emotion tnt as they brought Saturday? (7:33)
11) What is he expecting from Nate Schmidt after being a healthy scratch? (8:22)
12) How does he know when it is time to sit someone vs giving them more time? (9:03)

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6:30 pm CST (Reminder note that start time). Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interviews from Jets players as well as from head coach Rick Bowness.

You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button). This season you’ll have a chance to win great schwag including authentic Jets jerseys, hats, etc after every single game (For a variety of ways to enter click here).