Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 3 Game 1: Jets vs. Golden Knights pre-game report

Hard to believe the first game of the 3rd round is here because it feels like the 2nd round just ended which it clearly did for the Jets who knocked off the Predators in game 7 on Thursday night in Nashville.  But unlike the Golden Knights who have been off since they dispatched the Sharks last Sunday (May 6th) Winnipeg has only had one day between games.  It will be interesting to see how rest vs inaction will impact Vegas (if at all) in game 1.

The Jets lines are based on how they played Thursday night in Nashville.

AM skate notes:

Via Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun here is what’s happening at the morning skate for the Jets “#NHLJets hit the ice for optional morning skate. Connor Hellebuyck is on the ice taking some shots. No Toby Enstrom or Dustin Byfuglien. Several forwards exercising their option as well, Bryan Little, Adam Lowry or Paul Stastny, likely all maintenance”.

Lineup update:

No surprises based on warm up skate here at Bell MTS Place so we can expect the same lines and D pairs as we saw in game 7 against the Predators.

Projected Jets lines and D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Trouba
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Chiarot-Myers

Hellebuyck
Mason

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

Jets audio:

Blake Wheeler

Dustin Byfuglien

Mathieu Perreault

Mark Scheifele

Patrik Laine

Coach Maurice:  When does the process begin for preparing for the Golden Knights?  On trying to come down from the game 7 win and turning focus to Vegas.  What does tonight look like if the Jets play their way?  What does he know about coaching in this game that he didn’t know 20 years ago?  On the potential for distractions at this point in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  On his “on mic” clip during game 5 of the Predators series.  On the 8:30 pm start vs 6:00 pm start.  How does this season stack up and what keeps him doing what he’s doing?  On his evolution in coaching since his KHL days.

Golden Knights audio:

Cody Eakin

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

Alex Tuch

Coach Gallant

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.