Game Day Set-Up: Jets @ Sharks

When: Saturday, October 11, 2014

Time: 9:00 p.m. CST

Where: SAP Center, San Jose, California

Records: Winnipeg Jets (1-0-0), San Jose Sharks (1-0-0)

Television/Radio: SN360, CSN-CA/ TSN 1290 Radio

On the Horizon: Sunday, October 12th on the road against the Los Angeles Kings (9:00 p.m. CST).

Last Game: 6-2 opening night win over the Arizona Coyotes

Top Scorers:

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler (2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points), Tobias Enstrom (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points), Bryan Little (2 goals, 0 assists, 2 points), Zach Bogosian (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points), Mark Stuart (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point)

San Jose Sharks: Patrick Marleau (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points), Brent Burns (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points), Tommy Wingels (2 goals, 0 assists, 2 points),  Marc-Edouard Vlasic (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point), Jason Demers (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point)

Game Day Notes:

– The Jets 2.0  have played four regular season games against the Sharks and have a record of 2-2-0, including two wins last season; 5-4 win (shootout) on November 10th and 4-3 win on March 27th.

– Jets forward Evander Kane will not play for the Jets tonight and will not play on Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings. Kane suffered a knee injury during the 1st period of Thursday night’s season opener against the Coyotes when he collided with Jets forward Mark Scheifele. 

Update: Jets Head Coach Paul Maurice said this afternoon that Kane will be out at least two weeks and will be re-evaluated then.

– Despite both Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler coming close (two goals apiece) during Thursday night’s season opener against Arizona, the Jets 2.0 are still waiting for their first hat trick. The last hat trick scored by a member of the Jets/Thrashers franchise was Eric Boulton back on December 18, 2010 (against New Jersey Devils).

– According to David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News, Alex Stalock will start in goal tonight for the Sharks. Stalock played in 25 games for the Sharks last year (12-5-2, .932, 1.87 GAA).

– Who’s Under the Microscope for San Jose: Isn’t it always forward  Joe Thornton? Thornton was stripped of his captaincy during the offseason but still remains an alternate captain along with Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.  There have always been question marks about Thornton’s ability to win the big game so this will be an interesting year for a player who many thought might be traded out of San Jose during the offseason.

– Who’s Under the Microscope for Winnipeg: Dustin Byfuglien. With Evander Kane out of the line-up for at least the next two games, Byfuglien will be expected to pick up some of the offensive slack on the first line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.

Special Teams Breakdown:

– San Jose was 1/4 on the Power Play in their first game of the season (Wednesday night against Los Angeles). San Jose was 5/5 of the Penalty Kill.

– Winnipeg was 0/5 on the Power Play in their first game of the season and was 3/3 on the Penalty Kill.

Starting Goalies:

– Ondrej Pavelec (1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .929 Save Percentage)

– Alex Stalock (0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 0.000 Save Percentage)

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

Dustin Byfuglien- Mark Scheifele- Blake Wheeler
Andrew Ladd- Bryan Little- Michael Frolik
Adam Lowry- Matthieu Perreault -Matt Halischuk
TJ Galiardi- Jim Slater-Chris Thorburn

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

Ondrej Pavelec
Michael Hutchinson

Healthy Scratches: Anthony Peluso, Grant Clitsome

Projected San Jose Sharks Line Combinations:

Tomas Hertl- Joe Thornton- Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau- Logan Couture – Matthew Nieto
Tye McGinn- Chris Tierney- Tommy Wingels
Adam Burish- Andrew Desjardins- Mike Brown

Marc-Edouard Vlasic- Justin Braun
Mirco Mueller- Brent Burns
Scott Hannan- Jason Demers

Alex Stalock
Antti Niemi

Healthy Scratches: John Scott, Matt Irwin

Injury Report:

San Jose Sharks: Raffi Torres (knee), James Sheppard (knee), Tyler Kennedy (upper body), Barclay Goodrow (hand)

Winnipeg Jets:  Patrice Cormier (eye), Evander Kane (knee)