Game 73: Jets vs. Kings pre-game report

The Kings are coming off an OT win in St. Paul last night as they try to secure that final spot in the Pacific.  The Jets sit six points ahead of the Wild as they continue to add points to their standings bank to help them clinch their second playoff spot since their return to Winnipeg.

Morning skate notes:

According to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun looks like Eric Comrie will be getting his third NHL start and his first one at Bell MTS Place.  Ken also indicated that “Joe Morrow is off the ice and Tucker Poolman is doing some extra work, so it looks like Morrow will be in for Jacob Trouba.”

Jets lines, D pairs and starting goalie:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Ehlers-Stastny-Laine
Perreault-Copp-Little
Tanev-Lowry-Armia

Morrissey-Myers
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Morrow-Chiarot

Comrie
Hellebuyck

Extra:  Roslovic, Dano, Matthias, Poolman.
Injured: Kulikov, Trouba, Hendricks, Mason, Hutchinson.

Audio:

Eric Comrie

Blake Wheeler

Mark Scheifele

Ben Chiarot

Coach Maurice:  What is status of Jacob Trouba?  Why is this a good game for Eric Comrie?  Why has the transition been so smooth for Paul Stastny?  How have the Kings changed with the addition of Jeff Carter?  Given everything that has happened to their goalies, how much awareness do they have about protecting Hellebuyck?  Does he not mind a guy not taking a penalty when they are protecting their goalies?  On the depth at centre and the options to run the bench.  On the team being more adaptable.  What goes into the thinking behind his D pairings?  Would the opposition’s fastest line face Morrissey/Myers?  If there had been no injuries would he have swapped guys around?  On Josh Morrissey raising his level.  On the leadership from the veterans.  On Roslovic.

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health Update:

As expected Jets bench boss announced that Jacob Trouba was diagnosed with a concussion.  “He’s in the protocol now.  He feels good today so that’s a positive.”