Game 78: Winnipeg Jets vs Nashville Predators pre-game report

The Jets unusual road trip (since they returned home to Winnipeg after it began with a 4-2 in St. Paul on Saturday) resumes today in Nashville as they face a Predators team looking to clinch a playoff spot which they can do with a win or a point in extra time. The visitors also have a lot to play for as they can tie the Avalanche for the 2nd playoff spot in the Central with a win.

The home team have been good inside Bridgestone Arena this season with a 22-16-1 record. They have 16 more goals than Winnipeg this season but they’ve also given up 39 more goals against.

Morning skate news:

As per Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet a few players exercising their option this morning including Sean Monahan, Adam Lowry, Tyler Toffoli and Neal Pionk. He also indicated that Connor Hellebuyck gets the start in goal.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Pionk
Dillon-DeMelo
Stanley-Samberg

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Niederreiter update:

The Jets got some good news as Nino Niederreiter took to the ice as per Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press in his first skate since suffering a leg cut in the April 1st game against the Kings.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7 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 Predators.