Game 71: Jets vs. Blackhawks pre-game report

Pre-skate notes:

Plenty of questions leading into today’s game against the Hawks.  The Jets are a banged up bunch although they could be seeing some reinforcements from guys currently on IR.  The fact that only Eric Comrie was recalled from the Moose would seem to indicate that they may have an additional healthy forward(s) and/or defencemen for tonight’s game.

The Hawks have been off since they beat the Bruins on Sunday 3-1 in Chicago.  They are having an inconsistent season but have played well against the Jets winning both games to date, once here in Winnipeg (5-2) and once in Chicago (2-1).

Morning skate notes:

A sight for sore eyes I imagine for Jets fans as Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun reports that Adam Lowry, Mark Scheifele, Paul Stastny and Jacob Trouba are taking part in today’s skate.  Of course this doesn’t guarantee that they will get into the game but a good sign for the Jets.

Ted also indicating that Kulikov, Enstrom, Hendricks, Mason and Hutchinson are not skating today.

Audio:

Jacob Trouba

Blake Wheeler

Patrik Laine

Coach Maurice:  Injury update (Trouba, Lowry, Scheifele, Mason, Hutchinson, Hendricks, Kulikov, Enstrom, Stastny).   What will determine if Trouba plays tonight?  More on Kulikov.  When you have that many guys out of the lineup does he ask the team to play differently?  How many of these guys would be in the lineup if it was a playoff game?  Does he have to talk to the players on how they deal with injuries?  Has he made a decision as to who has come out?  On Lowry’s timeline.  On when Hutchinson sustained the concussion.  Fourth concussion to a goalie this year, how does he explain it?  On Comrie’s role.

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health Update:

After yesterday’s fairly comprehensive Injury Report the Jets bench boss added further clarity on his injured squad:

Jacob Trouba – “Possible for the game tonight.”

Adam Lowry/Mark Scheifele – “We expect full contact on Saturday practice and then we’ll make a decision on where they’re at, how they’re feeling for the next night.”

Steve Mason – “Coming along well.”

Michael Hutchinson – “Diagnosed with a concussion.”

Matt Hendricks – “Out 6-8 weeks, lower-body.”

Dmitry Kulikov – “We’re waiting for some inflammation to dissipate before we can get a good read on what we’re dealing with.  It will be a few days before I have an answer for you.”

Tobias Enstrom – “Real close.  Coach is being stubborn on that one.”

Paul Stastny – “Is in the game tonight.”

Projected Jets lines, D pairs and starting goalie:

Connor-Little-Wheeler
Ehlers-Stastny-Laine
Perreault-Copp-Armia
Dano-Roslovic-Tanev

Morrissey-Myers
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Morrow-Trouba

Hellebuyck
Comrie