Game Day Set-Up: Sabres @ Jets

When: Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Time: 6:00 p.m. CST

Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Records: Winnipeg Jets (18-18-5, 11th in the Western Conference), Buffalo Sabres (11-24-4, 16th in the Eastern Conference)

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

On the Horizon: Thursday, January 2nd on the road against the Ottawa Senators (6:30 p.m. CST).

Last Game: 2-1 road win (OT) over the Colorado Avalanche

Top Scorers:

Winnipeg Jets: Bryan Little (14 goals, 19 assists, 33 points), Blake Wheeler (15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points), Dustin Byfuglien (7 goals, 22 assists, 29 points), Andrew Ladd (10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points), Olli Jokinen (9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points)

Buffalo Sabres: Matt Moulson (13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points), Cody Hodgson (8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points), Tyler Ennis (8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points),  Christian Ehrhoff (2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points), Zemgus Girgensons (4 goals, 10 assists, 14 points)

Game Day Notes:

– The Sabres won their last game 2-1 over the Washington Capitals on Sunday and have won three of their last five games

– The Sabres average 1.69 goals/game, dead last in the NHL. By comparison, the Jets average 2.58 goals/game, 17th in the NHL.

– On Monday, the Jets re-assigned Julian Melchiori to the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League. Melchiori played in one game for the Jets and registered no points.

–  Jets goaltender Al Montoya will make his second consecutive start tonight for the first time since November 4th/6th when he started back-to-back games against the Detroit Red Wings (4-2 win) and Chicago Blackhawks (4-1 loss).

– Jets forward Blake Wheeler has four goals and two assists in his last five games.

Special Teams Breakdown:

– Buffalo has the 28th Ranked Power Play in the NHL (12.7%) and the 18th Ranked Penalty Kill in the NHL (81.3%)

– Winnipeg has the 24th Ranked Power Play in the NHL (14.9%) and the 12th Ranked Penalty Kill in the NHL (82.3%)

Starting Goalies:

– Al Montoya (7-2-1, 2.02 GAA, .929 Save Percentage)

–  Jhonas Enroth (1-7-3, 2.65 GAA, .909 Save Percentage)  

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little-Blake Wheeler
Evander Kane-Mark Scheifele-Michael Frolik
Chris Thorburn-Olli Jokinen-Devin Setoguchi
Eric Tangradi-James Wright- Anthony Peluso

Tobias Enstrom- Jacob Trouba
Keaton Ellerby- Dustin Byfuglien
Mark Stuart- Zach Bogosian

Al Montoya
Ondrej Pavelec

Healthy Scratches: Eric O’Dell, Adam Pardy

Projected Buffalo Sabres Line Combinations:

Matt Moulson- Tyler Ennis- Zemgus Girgensons
Steve Ott-Ville Leino-Drew Stafford
Marcus Foligno-Brian Flynn-Matt D’Agostini
Linus Omark-Matt Ellis-John Scott

Henrik Tallinder-Tyler Myers
Mark Pysyk- Christian Ehrhoff
Jamie McBain- Mike Weber

Jhonas Enroth
Ryan Miller

Healthy Scratches:

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres: Patrick Kaleta (knee), Cody McCormick (upper body), Cody Hodgson (finger), Kevin Porter (leg),

Winnipeg Jets:  Matt Halischuk (forearm, Injured Reserve), Paul Postma (leg, indefinitely), Jim Slater (sports hernia surgery, indefinitely),  Grant Clitsome (back, Injured Reserve)