Game 65: Jets vs. Hurricanes pre-game report

Morning skate notes:

As per Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun the Jets are sticking with optional skates on game day.  He indicated that Jacob Trouba, Adam Lowry, Shawn Matthias and Brandon Tanev were all part of the group skating today.  Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press later added that “Lowry, Tanev, Trouba, Matthias all staying out for extra work following morning skate.”.

Since it was an optional skate we will have to wait to hear from coach Maurice before we know if there are any changes to the lines and D pairs.  Below are based on last game vs Wings. Update:  Coach Maurice indicated he is using the same lineup today as he did on Friday.

Jets lines, D pairs and goalies:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Perreault-Little-Roslovic
Ehlers-Stastny-Laine
Hendricks-Copp-Armia

Morrissey-Byfuglien
Kulikov-Myers
Morrow-Chiarot

Hellebuyck
Hutchinson

Extras: Dano.
Injured: Mason, Tanev, Matthias, Lowry, Trouba, Enstrom

Audio:

Mathieu Perreault

Tyler Myers

Josh Morrissey

Coach Maurice:  Thoughts on the Hurricanes.  What does Cam Ward do that makes him such a good goalie?  What is status of Jacob Trouba?  Update on Brandon Tanev?  Thoughts on schedule of road trip?  What has he seen from Joe Morrow from past couple of games?  Hellebuyck starts?  Goalie plan?  What was the report on Steve Mason’s game with the Moose?  Will Mason play for Moose today?  On pushing to make playoffs but falling short (from his Hurricanes past).  Is it still a special game on the calendar when he plays in Carolina?  Importance of his group “having fun” as they push towards playoffs.  Status of Tobias Enstrom?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Injury update:

There is a long list of injured and coach Maurice provided an update on Jacob Trouba indicating “We’re thinking that Thursday he’ll get into contact….I don’t expect him on this trip to play but if he can get through five or six days of contact then we should be looking at him right after the trip.” as well as Adam Lowry “I think Adam is in the same boat, maybe a little further out, but not far.”.

Defenceman Tobias Enstrom has been out a couple of games and won’t play tonight “Felt really good today, we just didn’t want to put him in the boot.  He’s gonna tell us when he is ready to play.  I would not be surprised if it’s the next game, it may be the game after, but it’s not long term.”.

Mason’s conditioning assignment:

Steve Mason won a 5-4 OT decision for the Moose last night (hear him talk about the game here) and there was some thought that he may play again today for Manitoba.  Instead coach Maurice confirmed that the veteran goalie is traveling to meet the team.  Last night was his first game action since a January 9th contest against the Sabres and his first AHL action since he played three games with Syracuse in 2008-09.