Game 71: Winnipeg Jets vs Buffalo Sabres pre-game report

The Jets have continued their winning ways but there has been some things (i.e. the PP/PK or individual players who are struggling) that they would like to clean up before the playoffs get underway. They remain the top team in the West with 100 points and got closer to clinching a playoff spot on Saturday when the Rangers defeated the Canucks in regulation. They needed the Hawks to beat the Blues (which they did not) in order to clinch.

They face a Sabres team that lost on Saturday afternoon to the Wild by a final score of 4-1. Buffalo went with a roster of 11/7 with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes which means the expectation is 15 year pro and the pride of Morweena, Manitoba, James Reimer will likely get the net today.

As it relates to special teams the Sabres have the 27th ranked PP and the 22nd ranked PK so an opportunity to kick start the special teams for the Jets which have hit a bit of a lull.

Skate news:

No morning skate.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Tanev-Barron-Iafallo

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Schenn
Stanley-Miller

Comrie
Hellebuyck

Scratches: Gustafsson, Kupari, Fleury & Heinola

Sabres projected lines & D pairs:

Peterka – McLeod Thompson
Zucker – Greenway – Tuch
Krebs – Benson
Malenstyn – Kozak – Lafferty

Samuelsson  Dahlin
Power  Byram
Bryson  Clifton
Bernard-Docker

Reimer
Luukkonen

Scratches: Norris, Quinn and Murray

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 2 PM CDT. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. You can join us on our YouTube channel for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 4:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.