Game Day Set-Up: Predators @ Jets

When: Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Time: 7:00 p.m. CST

Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Records: Winnipeg Jets (6-5-1, 9th in West), Nashville Predators (7-2-2, 2nd in West)

Television/Radio: TSN3, FS-TN/ TSN 1290 Radio

On the Horizon: Thursday, November 6th at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7:00 p.m. CST).

Last Game: 1-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks

Top Scorers:

Winnipeg Jets: Bryan Little (5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points), Tobias Enstrom (0 goals, 8 assists, 8 points), Andrew Ladd (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points), Blake Wheeler (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points), Zach Bogosian (0 goals, 5 assists, 5 points)

Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg (3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points), Mike Ribeiro (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points), James Neal (7 goals, 2 assists, 9 points), Ryan Ellis (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points), Craig Smith (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points)

Game Day Notes:

– The Jets return home for a short two game home stand before heading back on the road for four games starting on Saturday, November 8th against the Ottawa Senators.

– The Jets earned seven of a possible eight points on their recent road trip, including back-to-back shutout victories over the New York Rangers (1-0 shootout) and Chicago Blackhawks (1-0). The Jets have not allowed a goal in 133 minutes and 27 seconds of playing time.

– The last time these two teams played was back on October 17th, the Jets home opener. The Predators won the game 2-0 with Pekka Rinne earning the shutout with a 31 save performance.

– Ondrej Pavelec will start in net for the Jets tonight. It will be Pavelec’s 11th start of the season. Pavelec has logged 628:41 of ice time so far this season, 2nd most in the NHL. Devils goaltender Cory Schneider ranks 1st in the NHL, having played 637:01 this year.

– According to Eric Stromgren of The Tennessean newspaper, Carter Hutton will start in net for the Predators tonight. Carter has only started one game this season, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on October 18th. On October 20, 2013, Carter Hutton made 38 saves for his first career NHL win against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre.

– Predators defenseman Anton Volchenkov is not eligible for tonight’s game as he is serving the second game of a four game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Calgary Flames forward Michael Ferland.

– Predators Captain Shea Weber averages 27:27 of ice time per game, 3rd most in the NHL. His partner, Roman Josi averages 27:12 of ice per game, 5th most in the NHL.

– Josi has blocked 35 shots in 11 games, 4th most in the NHL.

– Jets defenseman Mark Stuart has blocked 27 shots in 12 games, tied for 10th most in the NHL. Stuarts’ partner, Jacob Trouba has blocked 26 shots, tied for 14th most in the NHL.

– Evander Kane‘s next goal will be the 100th of his career.

– Predators Top Face-off Guy: Paul Gaustad (60.2%, 4th in NHL)

– Jets Top Face-off Guy: Jim Slater (57.4%, 10th in NHL)

– Who’s Under the Microscope for Nashville: Derek Roy. The 31-year-old centre has still not registered a goal yet this year in 12 games. Roy is currently centering the Predators second line between Matt Cullen and Craig Smith. Roy has five assists on the season.

– Who’s Under the Microscope for Winnipeg: Mathieu Perreault. The 26-year-old centre was signed to a three-year-deal as a free agent in the summer to provide much needed secondary offense but he has recorded just three assists in 12 games. The Jets simply need more offense from Perreault.

Special Teams Breakdown:

– Nashville PP (12.5%, 24th in NHL), Nashville PK (72.7%, 27th in NHL)

– Winnipeg PP (7.7%, 27th in NHL), Winnipeg PK (87.2%, 5th in NHL)

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

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

Tobias Enstrom- Zach Bogosian
Mark Stuart- Jacob Trouba
Grant Clitsome- Paul Postma

Ondrej Pavelec
Michael Hutchinson

Healthy Scratches: Matt Halischuk, Adam Pardy

Projected Nashville Predators Line Combinations:

Filip Forsberg- Mike Ribeiro – James Neal
Matt Cullen- Derek Roy- Craig Smith
Olli Jokinen- Colin Wilson- Taylor Beck
Gabriel Bourque- Paul Gaustad- Eric Nystrom

Roman Josi- Shea Weber
Ryan Ellis- Mattias Ekholm
Victor Bartley- Seth Jones

Pekka Rinne
Carter Hutton

Healthy Scratches: Viktor Stalberg

Injury Report:

Nashville Predators: Anton Volchenkov (suspension), Calle Jarnkrok (upper body), Mike Fisher (Achilles)

Winnipeg Jets:  Anthony Peluso (upper body, IR)