Game Day Preview: Jets @ Flyers

When: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Time: 6:00 p.m. CST

Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Records: Winnipeg (22-22-6), Philadelphia Flyers (29-14-5)

Television/Radio:  TSN-JETS, CSN-PH/ TSN 1290 Radio

The Story:  We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

After a six day hiatus that included the 2012 NHL-All Star Break in Ottawa, the Winnipeg Jets return to action tonight on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Jets have 32 games remaining on the 2011’12 NHL Regular Season schedule including the next four games on the road, a critical stretch that will have a significant impact on the team’s quest for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Jets are in 10th place in the East with 50 points, five points behind the 8th place New Jersey Devils, who have two games in hand on the Jets.

The Jets are in a sensitive spot right now. The team lost two road games in a row before the All-Star break, including a demoralizing 3-0 defeat to the New York Rangers exactly a week ago. The Jets must now win at least two games this week on the road or they risk falling out of the playoff picture entirely.

Making the playoffs is going to be a gargantuan task for the Jets as they have struggled big-time on the road. The Jets have the 8th worst road record in the National Hockey League at 7-14-4 and play six of their next seven games on the road. To make things worse, the Jets are still without two of their best players, Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien, who are still recovering from lingering injuries.

On Monday, the Jets re-called Aaron Gagnon and Spencer Machacek from the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League. They are both expected to play tonight versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Alexander Burmistrov and Tim Stapleton are both day-to-day with injuries and will not play tonight.

Ondrej Pavelec is expected to be the starter in goal for the Jets tonight.

Projected line combinations:

Goalie:

Ondrej Pavelec

Forwards:

1st: Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler

2nd:  Eric Fehr- Nikolai Antropov- Kyle Wellwood

3rd:  Tanner Glass- Jim Slater- Chris Thorburn

4th:  Antti Miettinen-Aaron Gagnon-Spencer Machacek

Defence:

Ron Hainsey- Tobias Enstrom

Zach Bogosian-Johnny Oduya

Mark Stuart-Randy Jones

Flyers lines courtesy of Brian Munz of TSN Radio 1290:

Goalie:

Ilya Bryzgalov

Forwards:

1st: Scott Hartnell-Claude Giroux- Jaromir Jagr

2nd:  Matt Read- Sean Couturier- Wayne Simmonds

3rd:  Tom Sestito-Max Talbot-Jakub Voracek

4th:  Jody Shelley-Brayden Schenn-Ben Holmstrom

Defence:

Timmo Timonen- Braydon Coburn

Matt Carle-Marc-Andre Bourdon

Erik Gustafsson-Andrej Meszaros

Offensive Leaders:

Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux (18 goals, 37 assists, 55 points), Scott Hartnell (25 goals, 19 assists, 44 points) and Jaromir Jagr (12 goals and 22 assists, 34 points)

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler (nine goals, 24 assists, 33 points), Evander Kane (18 goals, 13 assists, 31 points), Kyle Wellwood (nine goals, 21 assists, 30 points)

Injury Report:

Philadelphia Flyers: Danny Briere (concussion), James van Riemsdyk (concussion), Blair Betts (knee), Chris Pronger (concussion), Ian Laperriere (concussion)

Winnipeg Jets:  Burmistrov (lower-body), Kane (concussion), Stapleton (lower body), Byfuglien (knee) is day-to-day

Who’s Next: The Jets next game is on Thursday, February 2nd against the Tampa Bay Lightning (6:30 p.m. CST).

QUICKIES…..On Monday, the Jets traded 22-year-old forward Akim Aliu to the Calgary Flames for 22-year-old defenseman John Negrin…..Join Illegal Curve at The Cheer Bar & Grill (Osborne & Stradbrook) for tonight’s Jets/Flyers game…..Pick up your official Illegal Curve New Era 5950 Fitted Hat, available online (www.illegalcurve.com ) or at City Haul on 823 Corydon Avenue…..