Game Day Preview: Jets @ Lightning

When: Thursday, March 7, 2013

Time: 6:30 p.m. CST

Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa Bay,Florida

Records: Winnipeg Jets (10-11-1 – 10th in East), Tampa Bay Lightning (10-12-1 – 11th in East)

Television/Radio: TSN-JETS, SUN/ TSN 1290

The Story: The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to stop a two game losing skid as they continue their trip through Del Boca Vista country tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Jets lost 4-1 to the Florida Panthers Tuesday night, in a pretty laissez-faire contest.  They needed to show that they could take it to the next level against an opponent, especially a division rival, and failed to do so. Coach Claude Noel was understandably upset after Tuesday’s game and you can bet he will have his troops ready for battle tonight against a Bolts team coming off a big victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Today’s game is the second of four meetings between the Jets and Lightning this year. The two teams will meet next in Winnipeg on Sunday, March 24th (7:00 p.m. CST). The fourth and final meeting of the season is in Winnipeg on Tuesday, April 16th (7:00 p.m. CST).

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

Projected Jets line combinations (According to Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press):

Goalie:

Al Montoya

Forwards:

1st: Andrew Ladd- Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler

2nd:  Evander Kane-Olli Jokinen- Alexander Burmistrov

3rd:  James Wright–Nikolai Antropov – Antti Miettinen

4th:  Eric Tangradi- Jim Slater – Kyle Wellwood

Defence:

Ron Hainsey- Zach Bogosian

Dustin Byfuglien- Grant Clitsome

Paul Postma- Mark Stuart

Offensive Leaders:

Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos (17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points), Martin St. Louis (6 goals, 24 assists, 30 points), Teddy Purcell (4 goals, 17 assists, 21 points).

Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Ladd (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points), Evander Kane (9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points), Blake Wheeler (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points).

Injury Report:

Tampa Bay Lightning: Benoit Pouliot (upper body), Ryan Malone (lower body), Mathieu Garon (lower body)

Winnipeg Jets:  Tobias Enstrom (shoulder) and Zach Redmond (leg)

Who’s Next: After tonight’s game, the Jets head back to play Florida Panthers on Friday, March 8th (6:30 p.m.) in a back-to-back.  They finish off the road trip with a quick trip up to New Jersey on Sunday, March 10th (6:00 p.m.)