Game 77: Jets vs. Islanders pre-game report

The Jets and Islanders both come into tonight’s action having lost their last game.  Winnipeg sits 1st in the Central trying to maintain their place ahead of Nashville while New York is tied with Pittsburgh for 2nd in the Metropolitan and four points up on Carolina.

For now the projected lineup is simply based on yesterday’s practice and will be updated (if need be) when morning skate gets underway.

Morning Skate:

According to NHL correspondent Scott Billeck no Nikolaj Ehlers on the ice today for the Jets at AM skate. Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun confirms that Connor Hellbuyck will be in net.

Jets projected lineup:

Ehlers – Scheifele – Wheeler
Connor – Hayes – Laine
Tanev-Lowry-Little
Hendricks – Copp – Perreault

Beaulieu – Trouba
Kulikov – Myers
Chiarot – Niku

Hellebuyck
Comrie

Audio:

Mathieu Perreault

Mark Scheifele

Coach Maurice:  What can he say about Nikolaj Ehlers absence?  What has Matt Hendricks done to stick in the lineup?  What does he see in the Islanders?  With the playoff coming up is he looking to rest guys?  How does he approach the last half dozen games?  How has Kevin Hayes fit into the team?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health Update:

With Nikolaj Ehlers not skating this morning coach Maurice was asked if there was anything doing with the Jets speedy forward.  “He’s fine” according to the Jets bench boss.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7:00 pm CDT.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game audio from the Jets room as well as from coach Maurice.