Game Day Set-Up: Devils @ Jets

When: Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Time: 7:00 p.m. CST

Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Records: Winnipeg Jets (9-7-3, 21 points, 9th in West), New Jersey Devils (8-8-2, 18 points, 10th in East)

Television/Radio: MSG+2, TSN3/ TSN 1290 Radio

On the Horizon: Thursday, November 20th at home against the Detroit Red Wings (7:00 p.m. CST).

Last Game: 4-3 loss (overtime) to the Minnesota Wild

Top Scorers:

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler (8 goals, 5 assists, 13 points), Andrew Ladd (7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points), Bryan Little (5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points), Tobias Enstrom (1 goals, 8 assists, 9 points), Zach Bogosian (0 goals, 7 assists, 7 points)

New Jersey Devils: Jaromir Jagr (3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points), Mike Cammalleri (7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points), Michael Ryder (4 goal, 6 assists, 10 points), Patrik Elias (1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points), Marek Zidlicky (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points)

Game Day Notes:

– The Jets are finally home after wrapping up their longest road trip of the season on Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Wild. Winnipeg went 2-2-1 on the road trip, earning five of a possible 10 points.

– Michael Hutchinson was first off the ice this morning in practise and is expected to start in net for the Jets tonight. It will be Hutchinson’s 5th start of the season. Hutchinson has a record of 2-1-1 with a .947 Save Percentage and 1.49 Goals Against Average. Hutchinson replaced Pavelec in net during the second period of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Wild stopping 15 of 16 shots in the 4-3 overtime loss.

– The Jets have scored 37 goals this year, dead last in the Western Conference.

– Tonight marks the first game of a four game Canadian road trip for New Jersey. Upcoming games: Friday, November 21st at Edmonton, Saturday, November 22nd at Calgary and Tuesday, November 25th at Vancouver.

– The Devils currently have four defensemen under the age of 24 on their active roster: Damon Severson (20), Adam Larsson (22), Eric Gelinas (23), Seth Helgeson (24)

– According to Ed Tait of Winnipeg Free Press, Jets forward Mark Scheifele was one of the first players on the ice for practise this morning and is expected to play tonight. Scheifele is officially listed as a game-time decision. Scheifele left Sunday afternoon’s game against the Minnesota Wild in the first period with an apparent leg injury.

– According to Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record newspaper, Cory Schneider is expected to get the start in net for the Devils tonight. Schneider has started all 18 games for New Jersey this season. Schneider has a record of  8-7-2 with a Goals Against Average of 2.71 and a Save Percentage of .910.

– According to Tom Gulitti, Adam Henrique (lower body injury) is hoping to return to the line-up  tonight and is a game-time decision. Henrique has practised with the Devils in Winnipeg the last two days. Henrique has missed the last six games. Henrique has four goals and five assists in 12 games this season.

– Bryan Little has the best Plus/Minus on the Jets at Plus-5.

– Defenseman Tobias Enstrom leads all Jets in ice time, averaging 25:16 of ice time per game, ranked 11th in the NHL.

– Defenseman Andy Greene leads all Devils in ice time, averaging 22:54 of ice time per game, ranked 42nd in the NHL.

– Winnipeg Jets forward Michael Frolik is one point shy of 200 career points.

– Devils Top Face-off Guy: Adam Henrique (54.8%, 20th in NHL)

– Jets Top Face-off Guy: Jim Slater (56.0%, 12th in NHL)

– Who’s Under the Microscope for New Jersey: Travis Zajac. The 29-year-old Winnipeg native has struggled offensively early this season with only three goals and four assists in 18 games. All eyes will be on Zajac with him back in his hometown.

– Who’s Under the Microscope for Winnipeg: Mathieu Perreault. Perreault has been under the microscope a few times already this season but he’s back again as he is still without a goal through 19 games (three assists). The Jets need more from Perreault and you can bet the 26-year-old Drummondville, Quebec native wants to break his goalless drought.

Special Teams Breakdown:

– New Jersey PP (18.6%, 14th in NHL), New Jersey PK (70.0%, 30th in NHL)

– Winnipeg PP (9.7%, 28th in NHL), Winnipeg PK (87.7%, 6th in NHL)

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

Andrew Ladd- Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler
Evander Kane- Mathieu Perreault- Dustin Byfuglien
Adam Lowry- Mark Scheifele -Michael Frolik
Matt Halischuk- Jim Slater- Chris Thorburn

Tobias Enstrom- Zach Bogosian
Mark Stuart- Jacob Trouba
Adam Pardy- Paul Postma

Michael Hutchinson
Ondrej Pavelec

Healthy Scratches: TJ Galiardi, Anthony Peluso, Grant Clitsome

Projected New Jersey Devils Line Combinations:

Mike Cammalleri- Travis Zajac – Jaromir Jagr
Martin Havlat- Patrik Elias- Michael Ryder
Tuomo Ruutu- Adam Henrique- Damien Brunner
Dainius Zubrus- Stephen Gionta- Steve Bernier

Andy Greene- Damon Severson
Eric Gelinas- Marek Zidlicky
Seth Helgeson- Adam Larsson

Cory Schneider
Scott Clemmensen

Healthy Scratches: Jordin Tootoo, Jacob Josefson

Injury Report:

New Jersey: Bryce Salvador (lower body, IR), Ryane Clowe (suspected concussion), Jon Merrill (arm, day-to-day), Cam Janssen (upper body)

Winnipeg Jets:  None