Game 68: Jets vs Hurricanes pre-game report

Before this three-game swing through the Eastern Conference began many thought Winnipeg could come limping home with tough games against the Panthers, Lightning and Hurricanes. Instead they have an opportunity for a clean sweep if they can keep things rolling tonight in Raleigh against a Hurricanes team that sit in top spot in the Metro Division although they have lost two straight (both by shutout) and their second most prolific points producer in Andrei Svechnikov is out indefinitely.

On the Winnipeg side of things there remains a question about the health status of Josh Morrissey who missed his first game of the season in Tampa after getting hurt late in the 2nd period of the game in Sunrise the night before as there was some hope from his coach that he’d be able to play today. As well there is also a question mark regarding whether Pierre-Luc Dubois has gotten better sufficiently to join the team on the road and which Rick Bowness said would require a “big improvement” between Sunday and today.

Skate news:

As per Ken Wiebe of Sportnet defenceman Josh Morrissey is on the ice for Winnipeg this morning and as you can see from the lines and D pairs from Wieber it looks like he will draw in although he notes that Morrissey stayed on for extra work so he may not be quite ready or the team wants him to get a few more days of rest. He did indicate that David Rittich was in the strarter’s net.

Coach’s update:

Wieber indicated that Rick Bowness confirmed Morrissey will be a game-time decision and that if he cannot play than Kyle Cappbianco will draw in.

Warm-up skate:

Kenny indicated no Josh Morrissey in warm-up skate so he won’t go tonight and Kyle Capobianco will draw in.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Samberg-Pionk
Dillon-DeMelo
Capobianco-Schmidt

Rittich
Hellebuyck

Betway Odds:

Despite the fact that the Jets have won two straight and the Hurricanes have lost two straight the oddsmakers still favour the home team in a fairly substantial manner. Perhaps that is because Carolina has been so good at home going 23-8-2 at PNC Arena. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:

1) Players playing tighter D.
2) Facing a Hurricanes team that have lost two straight (:27)
3) How do they change without Andrei Svechnikov? (:55)
4) Growing importance of Lowry line as season in stretch drive (1:16)
5) Morgan Barron taking next step (2:14)

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 6:00 pm CST.  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).