Game 75: Winnipeg Jets vs Los Angeles Kings pre-game report

The Jets didn’t skate on Sunday as they took the day off to rest and try to get ready for a big contest against the Kings this evening as they attempt to get back on track following six straight losses (0-5-1) and with just eight games remaining. At this point, with the Stars and Avalanche pulling away, the Jets seemed destined to finish either 3rd in the Central or as a wild card team if they cannot arrest their fall in the standings. The good news for Winnipeg is hard-charging Nashville hit a bit of a speed bump after narrowing the deficit to four points courtesy of a 15-0-2 run as they have lost their last two games.

About the only roster spot we can be certain of is the starting goalie as Jets head coach Rick Bowness confirmed after last game that Laurent Brossoit would start in goal. Does Dylan Samberg return? Does Cole Perfetti? We will have to wait until morning skate gets underway.

While the homestand is off to an 0-2-1 start so far they have been a good home team at Canada Life Centre going 23-11-3 in downtown Winnipeg. They are still one of the stingiest teams in terms of goals against sitting with the 2nd least after the Panthers. The team they face tonight sits with the third least against and Los Angeles also has a a similar goals for total as Winnipeg which should make for two evenly matched hockey clubs.

This is an important game for the Kings as they looked like a lock in the 3rd spot in the Pacific but having lost two straight and with the Golden Knights on a heater (7-2-1) they have dropped down to the second wild card spot.

Morning Skate:

Lines start today the same as how they ended although Tyler Toffoli isn’t skating this morning so Cole Perfetti is in his place.

Health news:

Head coach Rick Bowness confirmed Tyler Toffoli is under the weather and that he will be a game-time decision. If he cannot play then Cole Perfetti would take that spot. If 73 is able to play Bowness didn’t confirm 91 is out. Which means we will be watching warm-up skate attentively.

Warm-up skate:

Cole Perfetti and David Gustafsson were both on the ice for warm-up skate. No Tyler Toffoli who is clearly still under the weather. Gustafsson was the extra.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-Schmidt
Samberg-DeMelo

Brossoit
Hellebuyck

Player interviews:

Coach interview:

Topics:

1) His new look lines.
2) What did he see from top line when they were together that worked well (:48)
3) What does Kyle Connor have to do to fit in on 2nd line? (1:19)
4) What is the cause of players wanting to do too much? (2:29)
5) Is this causing the drop in 5 on 5 play? (3:10)
6) Status of Tyler Toffoli (3:50)
7) New look D pairings (4:01)
8) The pairing of 44 and 4, is that to help Pionk out? (4:30)

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 8 PM CDT.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. Reminder to join us on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show following the final buzzer between the Jets and Kings.