Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 3 Game 4: Jets vs. Golden Knights pre-game report

If game 3 was critical it makes game 4 monumental for the Jets to win so they can even the series before returning back to Winnipeg for game 5 on Sunday.  The last thing this team wants is to be down 3-1 in this series so a good start and a complete 60 minute effort will be important against a Vegas team which is playing with a lot of confidence.

AM skate notes:

Via Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun: “Just 8 #NHLJets players on ice for gameday skate this morning in Vegas. Joel Armia is the only regular. Would Ehlers play after not skating, that we know of, since Monday?”.  Chris Johnston of Sportsnet adds “Nikolaj Ehlers isn’t on the ice for the third (possibly fourth?) straight day. Would seem unlikely he’s playing Game 4 tonight, especially with Jack Roslovic not skating with extras.”.  After the Jets skate Frank Seravali of TSN added this “#nhljets clarify Nikolaj Ehlers status. He is sick, not injured, and is available for tonight’s Game 4. He did not skate yesterday, has not skated in three straight days though.”

We will have to wait until pre-game warm up skate for the question surrounding Ehlers to be answered.  If he is feeling up to it I believe he will draw back into the Jets lineup.  For now the projected lineup (see below) is based on last game.

Warm up note:

Both Ehlers and Roslovic our for skate but Joel Armia is not.  Also Michael Hutchinson is on the ice and Steve Mason is not.

Updated Projected Lines and D pairs:

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

Morrissey-Trouba
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Chiarot-Myers

Hellebuyck
Hutchinson

Extra: Hendricks, Kulikov, Matthias, Dano, Morrow, Poolman and Hutchinson.
Unknown:  Mason & Armia.

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Bryan Little

Coach Maurice:  Is Ehlers condition related to his malaise from the 1st round and did he skate yesterday?  On the critical nature of game 4, does it change for a coach, is it any different?  Did Ehlers skate yesterday?  Is there a benefit to having the players not thinking about hockey?  How does he find the way to motivate his team without putting too much emphasis on the game?  Does a 5 pm (local) start pose a challenge?  On some of the things that Blake Wheeler would have done to get his team ready between games 3 and 4.  What did he like about how Roslovic fit into the lineup?  On gambling and the NHL.

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Game time:

Pre-game warm up skate will get underway 30 minutes before puck drop which is schedule for 5 pm local time in Vegas or 7 pm back in Manitoba.