Note: The Jets were without Neal Pionk yesterday at practice in New Jersey as he deals with some illness so we will have to wait and see if he’ll be a player tonight. We do know that Laurent Brossoit is likely starting but associate coach Scott Arniel, who is filling in for head coach Rick Bowness who is absent after having a minor medical procedure, indicated more changes could be happening as they try to keep guys fresh. Morning skate for the Jets gets underway at 10:30 AM CDT. All the relevant news will be posted in the pre-game report so check back for that. Puck drop is at 6 PM CDT.
Note II: This evening, after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and New Jersey, we want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.
Note III: The Moose started the right way in their re-match with the Griffins but they just didn’t have enough gas in the tank on this night and Grand Rapids, thanks in large part to their goalie Sebastian Cossa, were able to get a measure of revenge on Manitoba after they lost 5-1 the day before by handing Manitoba a 4-1 loss on Wednesday night. Luckily for the Moozse the team chasing them (Wolves) in the standings blew a 3-2 lead in regulation and ended up losing in OT which means they have a seven point lead on the fifth and final playoff spot.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Jets looking to keep pedal to the metal at New Jersey. Despite the fact that NJ have gone 3-7-0 in their last ten they are still within striking distance (six points) of a wild card spot so expect a big game from them this evening.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Free Press: Arniel has stellar record guiding Jets in Bowness’s absence. (Paywall). Going 10-2-2 without the bench boss is a nice testament to the job the associate coach is doing although he is quick to deflect it onto the system put into place by Rick Bowness as well as the work being done by the other coaches on the staff.
Winnipeg Free Press: Returning to New Jersey for 800th career game not a sentimental journey for Toffoli. (Paywall). It would be different it was a place he has spent a sizeable part of his career in but he was there for all of seven months.
Daily Faceoff: Tyler Toffoli has been an excellent fit for the Winnipeg Jets. Former NHLer Luke Gazdic spoke about the impact Toffoli is having on the Jets.
