Game Day Preview: Devils @ Jets

When: Sunday, October 13, 2013

Time: 7:00 p.m. CST

Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB

Records: Winnipeg (2-3-0), New Jersey (0-2-3)

Television/Radio: TSN-Jets, MSG Plus/TSN 1290 Radio

The Story:  The Winnipeg Jets are losers of three games in a row so they will look to turn their early season fortunes around tonight when they host the New Jersey Devils in the second game of a six-game home stand.

The Jets were defeated 4-1 by the Dallas Stars on Friday night in perhaps the most discouraging game of the young season to date. Winnipeg was badly outplayed by the Stars and found themselves down 3-0 by the end of the first period. Tyler Seguin (2 goals, 2 assists) and Jamie Benn (1 goal, 2 assists) were dominant all night long and exposed a Jets defense that has not been sharp during this currrent three game losing skid.

With games coming up next week against the Montreal Canadiens (Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. CST) and St. Louis Blues (Friday, 7 pm CST), the Jets upcoming schedule is not going to get easier which reinforces the importance of tonight’s matchup with the Devils, who have yet to win a game in regulation this season.The Devils are currently on the fourth game of a five game Canadian road trip which has included stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. New Jersey wraps up the road trip in Ottawa Thursday night.

Against Winnipeg, the Devils will once again be led by 37-year-old veteran Patrik Elias who has been centering the team’s top line alongside fellow countryman Jaromir Jagr and Dainius Zubrus. New Jersey has other offensive punch too, as UFA signing Damien Brunner has been the team’s most consistent player early on in the season, leading the team offensively with three goals and two assists in five games.

Sunday night will be a homecoming of sorts for Cory Schneider as he is expected to start in net for the Devils in a building that he is very familiar with. Schneider played for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League for three seasons (2007-2010) and was an integral part of the 2008’09 team that went to the Calder Cup Finals versus the Hershey Bears. Schneider was a very well liked athlete during his time in Winnipeg and he will surely receive a warm reception from the MTS Centre faithful at some point during tonight’s game.

Al Montoya will make his first start in goal for the Jets tonight.

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

Evander Kane-Bryan Little-Blake Wheeler
Andrew Ladd-Mark Scheifele-Michael Frolik
Eric Tangradi-Olli Jokinen-Devin Setoguchi
James Wright-Jim Slater-Matt Halischuk

Tobias Enstrom-Zach Bogosian
Paul Postma-Dustin Byfuglien
Mark Stuart-Jaocb Trouba

Al Montoya
Ondrej Pavelec

Healthy Scratches: Anthony Peluso, Grant Clitsome

Projected New Jersey Devils Line Combinations:

Dainius Zubrus-Patrik Elias- Jaromir Jagr
Ryane Clowe-Travis Zajac-Damien Brunner
Adam Henrique–Andrei Loktionov-Michael Ryder
Rostislav Olesz- Stephen Gionta- Steve Bernier

Bryce Salvador-Marek Zidlicky
Andy Greene- Adam Larsson
Anton Volchenkov-Peter Harrold

Cory Schneider

Martin Brodeur

Healthy Scratches: Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby, Mark Fayne

Injury Report:

New Jersey Devils: Ryan Carter (upper body, did not practice yesterday)

Winnipeg Jets:  Chris Thorburn (lower body, questionable)

QUICKIES….Cory Schneider had a 84-45-5 record over the course of three seasons with the Manitoba Moose, including 12 shutouts…..Schneider’s best season with the Moose: 2008’09 (28-10-1, .930 Save Percentage, 2.04 GAA)…..The Jets Power Play is currently ranked 17th overall in the NHL (20.8%)…..The Jets are allowing 33.8 shots against per game (23rd in the NHL)…..The Jets are averaging 27.4 shots for per game (24th in the NHL)…..