Game Day Set-Up: Jets @ Rangers

When: Monday, December 2, 2013

Time: 6:00 p.m. CST

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

Records: Winnipeg Jets (12-12-4, 11th in the Western Conference), New York Rangers (14-13-0, 8th in the Eastern Conference)

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

On the Horizon: Thursday, December 5th on the road against the Florida Panthers (6:30 p.m. CST).

Last Game: 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers

Pre-game Audio:

John Albert – What have the last 24 hours been like?  Who did he call first?  How did he find out?  What has he done in St. John’s that got him rewarded with a call-up.  Nice play to make a debut!  First time in NY?  Thought about his first shift?  Did he think that this day would come this season?  What does it mean to come back from the injury?  What’s his style of play?  Signing contract with Winnipeg.  Zinger in his corner.  What did coaching staff tell him this morning?  Systems different between IceCaps and Jets?  Know his linemates at all?  How did his folks react to the news?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Top Scorers:

Winnipeg Jets: Bryan Little (12 goals, 13 assists, 25 points), Dustin Byfuglien (6 goals, 15 assists, 21 points), Andrew Ladd (7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points), Blake Wheeler (5 goals, 12 assists, 17 points), Michael Frolik (7 goals,8 assists, 15 points)

New York Rangers: Brad Richards (7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points), Derek Stepan (5 goals, 14 assists, 19 points), Chris Kreider (6 goals, 14 assists, 20 points), Ryan McDonagh (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points), Mats Zuccarello (3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points)

Game Day Notes:

– The Rangers head into tonight’s game on the heels of a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. New York has won six of their last 10 games and currently hold the last playoff spot in the East. 22-year old Chris Kreider recorded his first career hat trick in the victory.

– Mark Scheiele enters tonight’s game on a four game points streak (one goal, three assists)

– The Jets are 8-2-1 when scoring first this season and are 6-2-1 against teams in the Eastern Conference

– Jets left winger Evander Kane is listed as questionable for tonight’s game versus the Rangers and did not practice today which means he will most likely not play. Kane left Friday afternoon’s game with Philadelphia with a lower body injury after he was hit into the board by Flyers defenceman Braydon Coburn. The Jets recalled John Albert from the St.John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League on Sunday and he will make his season debut tonight. Albert has three goals and five assists in 23 games this season with St.John’s. Eric Tangradi will be a healthy scratch tonight. Tangradi has one goal and two assists in 23 games this season.

– Anthony Peluso checks back into the line-up tonight. Peluso has been a healthy scratch for the last five games. Peluso has one goal in 10 games this season.

Special Teams Breakdown:

– New York has the 13th Ranked Power Play in the NHL (19.4%) and the 6th Ranked Penalty Kill in the NHL (85.2%)

– Winnipeg has the 28th Ranked Power Play in the NHL (11.5%) and the 16th Ranked Penalty Kill in the NHL (83.0%)

Starting Goalies:

– Ondrej Pavelec (9-10-3, 2.69 GAA, .916 Save Percentage)

– Cam Talbot (6-1-0, 1.49 GAA, .944 Save Percentage)  

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little-Blake Wheeler
Chris Thorburn-Olli Jokinen-Devin Setoguchi
Matt Halischuk-Mark Scheifele-Michael Frolik
James Wright-John Albert-Anthony Peluso

Dustin Byfuglien- Tobias Enstrom
Jacob Trouba – Grant Clitsome
Mark Stuart- Keaton Ellerby

Ondrej Pavelec
Al Montoya

Healthy Scratches: Eric Tangradi, Adam Pardy

Projected New York Rangers Line Combinations:

Brad Richards- Derick Brassard- Ryan Callahan
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Carl Hagelin-Dominic Moore-Mats Zuccarello
Benoit Pouliot- Brian Boyle-Derek Dorsett

Ryan McDonagh -Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto- Justin Falk

Cam Talbot
Henrik Lundqvist

Healthy Scratches: John Moore, Taylor Pyatt

Injury Report:

New York Rangers: None

Winnipeg Jets:  Paul Postma (leg, indefinitely), Jim Slater (sports hernia surgery, indefinitely), Zach Bogosian (lower body, Injured Reserve), Evander Kane (lower body, day-to-day)