Game Day Preview: Jets @ Islanders

When: Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Time: 6:00 p.m. CST

Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York

Records: Winnipeg Jets (37-34-9), New York Islanders (33-36-11)

Television/Radio:  TSN-JETS (HD),MSG PLUS 2 (HD)/ TSN Radio 1290

The Story: The Winnipeg Jets close out their four-game road trip tonight against the New York Islanders with five out of a possible six points already earned.

The Jets defeated the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime Tuesday night thanks to Captain Andrew Ladd’s game-winner for their second road victory in three games, improving the team’s road record to 14-21-5.

Heading into tonight’s game, the Jets are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with 83 points, five points behind the 8th place Washington Capitals (88 points) and five points behind the 9th place Buffalo Sabres (88 points).

The Jets only have two games remaining- tonight’s road game and Saturday’s home game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tonight’s game between the Jets and Islanders will be the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two teams with the Islanders holding the season series edge with two wins to Winnipeg’s one. The last time these two teams played was back on February 14th, a 3-1 New York victory at the MTS Centre.

The Islanders enter tonight’s game on a three game losing streak. The Islanders lost to the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Tuesday night and are 14th in the Eastern Conference with 77 points.

Follow @IllegalCurve on Twitter leading up to tonight’s game.

Projected Jets line combinations:

Goalie:

Chris Mason

Forwards:

1st: Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler

2nd:  Evander Kane- Alexander Burmistrov- Spencer Machacek

3rd:  Chris Thorburn – Jim Slater- Patrice Cormier

4th:  Tim Stapleton – Nik Antropov – Antti Miettinen

Defence:

Dustin Byfuglien- Tobias Enstrom

Grant Clitsome- Zach Bogosian

Mark Flood–Mark Stuart

Offensive Leaders:

New York Islanders: John Tavares (31 goals, 48 assists, 79 points), Matt Moulson (35 goals, 33 assists, 68 points), PA Parenteau (18 goals, 49 assists, 67 points)

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler (17 goals, 46 assists, 63 points), Evander Kane (30 goals, 26 assists, 56 points), Dustin Byfuglien (11 goals, 39 assists, 50 points)

Injury Report:

New York Islanders: Rick DiPietro (groin), Casey Cizikas (upper body), Evgeni Nabokov (lower body), Kiril Kabanov (concussion)

Winnipeg Jets:  Tanner Glass (foot, out for season), Eric Fehr (upper body), Kyle Wellwood (ankle, out for season)

Who’s Next: The Jets next- and last- game of the season is on Saturday, April 7th, at home, against the Tampa Bay Lightning (6:00 p.m. CST).

QUICKIES…..Join The Illegal Curve Crew tonight at The Cheer Bar & Grill (Osborne and Stradbrook) for the Jets/Islanders game…..