Game Day Preview: Jets @ Predators

Download a Line-Up Card for tonight’s game. Lineups courtesy of frequent Illegal Curve Hockey Show guest Josh Cooper

When: Saturday, September 24, 2011, game starts at 7:00 pm cst.

Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee

Records: Winnipeg (1-1-0), Nashville (3-1-0)

The Story:  It feels like The Winnipeg Jets last played two weeks ago but in fact it’s only been four days since the Jets split two split-squad games with the Columbus Blue Jackets to start their pre-season schedule earlier this week. Tonight, Winnipeg looks to win its first pre-season game on the road when they travel to Music City to face the always dangerous Nashville Predators.

The Jets play three games in three days starting tonight and five games in seven days which will be quite different than the low key week they had after Tuesday’s huge home opener win/away game loss against Columbus in two split-squad games.

Winnipeg released eight players on Wednesday (Click here to see the list of players who the Jets released) and are now down to 53 players in training camp. The Jets will send 30 players (23 players will dress) to the game tonight in Nashville and the game Monday in St.John’s, Newfoundland against the Ottawa Senators while a different squad of 23 players will play the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. After Monday night’s game, the Jets will finish their pre-season schedule with two games at the MTS Centre; Wednesday, September 28th against the Carolina Hurricanes and Friday, September 30th against the Nashville Predators.

The rosters in Nashville and St.John’s will be more complete than either of the squads that player earlier this week. The 30- man roster for the Jets travelling to Nashville and St.John’s will include Captain Andrew Ladd, sniper Evander Kane, Number-1 centre Bryan Little, right winger Blake Wheeler, rookie Mark Scheifele, prospect Carl Klingberg, defensemen Tobias Enstrom, Ron Hainsey and Johnny Oduya, Number-1 goaltender Ondrej Pavelec and backup Chris Mason. For the Sunday game against the Carolina Hurricanes, notable starters for the Jets 23-man roster will be forwards Alex Burmistrov, Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov, defensemen Zach Bogosian and Dustin Byfuglien and goaltender David Aebischer. Forward Marco Rosa, who was the top scorer for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose last season, will be in the line-up after being sidelined with an injury.

Below is the complete rosters for both Nashville and Winnipeg (with projected line combinations subject to change) for tonight’s game in Nashville:

*** Hat Tip to Joshua Cooper of The Tennessean for providing tonight’s roster for the Nashville Predators

Winnipeg Jets Line-up

Goal
Chris Mason
Edward Pasquale
Ondrej Pavelec (scratch)

Defencemen
Tobias Enstrom Ben Chiarot
Johnny Oduya Paul Postma
Julian Melchiori Derek Meech
Cody Sol

Forwards

Evander Kane Bryan Little Spencer Machacek
Patrice Cormier Mark Scheifele Carl Klingberg
Jason Gregoire Ben Maxwell Kendal McArdle
Chris Thorburn Tim Stapleton Troy Bodie

Scratches: Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Ron Hainsey, Akim Aliu, Mike Forney, Jim Slater

Nashville Predators Line-up

Goal

Pekka Rinne

Chet Pickard

Defense

Ryan Suter Shea Weber

Mattias Ekholm  Ryan Ellis

Teemu Laakso Jack Hillen

Forwards
Sergei Kostitsyn David Legwand Patric Hornqvist
Martin Erat Colin Wilson Chris Mueller
Zach Stortini Jerred Smithson Jordin Tootoo
Nick Spaling Cal O’Reilly Ryan Thang

Scratches: Mike Fisher, Blake Geoffrion

Game Notes…….Chris Mason played 135 games for the Nashville Predators from 1998-2008…..Nashville Predators Coach Barry Trotz was born in Dauphin, Manitoba…