Game 65: Jets vs Wild pre-game report

Despite picking up three points in their last two games the Jets are in no position to be resting on their laurels. The Avalanche won which leapfrogged them back into 3rd and pushed Winnipeg into the second wild card spot. The Flames also won in a shootout over the Wild, who the Jets play tonight.

Despite Pierre-Luc Dubois taking a maintenance day on Tuesday it is expected that he will play in this critical contest.

Skate news:

It’s an optional skate this morning and as per Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet it is Connor Hellebuyck (no surprise) going through the starter’s routine. He also indicated no Pierre-Luc Dubois at skate but that could be continued maintenance. Will have to wait and see what head coach Rick Bowness says.

Wieber added that Logan Stanley and David Gustafsson didn’t stay on for extra work so both could be in this evening.

For now it is simply based on yesterday’s skate.

Game-time decision:

As per head coach Rick Bowness centre Pierre-Luc Dubois will be a game-time decision tonight against the Wild.

Warm-up skate:

No Pierre-Luc Dubois for the Jets as warm-up gets underway here in Winnipeg. David Gustafsson taking skate.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-DeMelo
Stanley-Schmidt

Hellebuyck
Rittich

Betway Odds:

Despite how things have been going of late with the home team the oddsmakers are favouring Friendly Manitoba over Minnesota Nice in the contest this evening. Perhaps the required desperation of the Jets is one determining factor, or maybe it is because the visitors hosted the Flames last night in a game that went to a shootout. The Wild are currently four points up on the Jets in the Central Division standings. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Power play configuration.
2) Teams taking away 81’s one-timer (:48)
3) What is working so well for the Wild (1:42)
4) Lack of shots vs Islanders, avoiding that vs Wild (3:16)
5) How Nate Schmidt handled being sat out (4:30)
6) 88 being a good teammate regardless of personal cost (6:22)
7) What he’s learned about Kyle Capobianco (7:11)

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).