Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 2 Game 4: Jets vs. Predators pre-game report

The Jets held an optional practice on Wednesday so we didn’t get any insight into any potential roster changes ahead of game 4 although we did learn yesterday that Mathieu Perreault pulled a little subterfuge earlier this week.  While he sounds good to go and could draw in tonight the question marks still surround Joel Armia and Dmitry Kulikov who wore regular uniforms but that could simply have been because of the nature of practice on Wednesday.  We will find out today and for now the projected lines and D pairs based on the last game.

AM Skate Notes:

Looks like the Jets will be sporting a healthy lineup for the first time in ages.  According to Mitchell Clinton of Jets TV “Perreault, Armia, and Kulikov in regular jerseys”.  Jason Bell of the Winnipeg Free Press has indicated that neither Byfuglien or Hellebuyck are present but that is the norm for morning skates.

Lineup tonight:

Joel Armia declared that he will be playing.  Via Scott Billeck of NHLcom we see that “For what it’s worth, Mathieu Perreault is still out on the ice getting extra work. So is Jack Roslovic. Matt Hendricks came off with most of the other players. Appears Roslovic will come out for Armia and not Hendricks but we won’t really know until puck drop”. My thought is this could be some more subterfuge by the Jets so we won’t know anything official until pre-game warm up skate.

Update:  No Perreault or Roslovic on the ice for warm up so it looks like just Joel Armia draws in.

Projected lines and D pairs:

Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Stastny-Laine
Tanev-Lowry-Little
Hendricks-Copp-Armia

Morrissey-Trouba
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Chiarot-Myers

Hellebuyck
Mason

Extra: Roslovic, Perreault, Kulikov, Matthias, Dano, Morrow, Poolman and Hutchinson.

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Patrik Laine

Joel Armia

Mark Scheifele

Coach Maurice:  What have they missed without Joel Armia and what are they getting back?  Is this the best he has seen Tyler Myers play?  Why is Subban a polarizing player?  Is Perreault available?  Thoughts on Adam Lowry’s playoffs?  On his philosophy to making changes to the lineup when guys are coming back healthy.  Is Lowry/Copp/Tanev his favourite shut down combo?  Little bit on Little.  How does he think his blueline has performed in the 2nd round?  Are we likely to see a 2-1 game in this series?  After playing the Predators eight games what has he noticed about their ability to rise to the occasion?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health news:

Coach Maurice was asked specifically about Mathieu Perreault being available for tonight and his response generally was “They all are.  If they’re not wearing gold they are all available”.