Winnipeg Jets Practice Report

The Jets are in Philadelphia today for a practice as they get ready to play the Flyers tomorrow afternoon at 12 noon at Wells Fargo Center.  Despite the injury to centre Mark Scheifele on Tuesday the Jets continued their winning ways last night in New Jersey with a 3-2 win over the Devils, their fourth straight win.

Practice Notes:

Looks like an optional for the Jets today.  According to Brian Munz of TSN 1290 Winnipeg these players were skating: Hutchinson, Chiarot, Trouba, Morrow, Copp, Tanev, Matthias, Lowry, Ehlers, Laine, Armia, Roslovic, Dano and Connor.

Audio:

Patrik Laine

Tobias Enstrom

Ben Chiarot

Michael Hutchinson

Coach Maurice:  Update on Kulikov?  Sliding Morrow back into the lineup?  What has caught his eye with Ben Chiarot in last six or seven weeks?  How does a player stop “looking over their shoulder”?  Status of Josh Morrissey?  Update on Mark Scheifele.  Does their position in the standings buy them some time?  Can you ever have too many centres?  Update on Adam Lowry/Jacob Trouba?  On Patrik Laine’s game as he approaches a milestone.  Travel they’ve had over last week.  Who starts tomorrow?  When might Hutchinson start?  Any update on Mason?  On ensuring Hellebuyck isn’t fatigued.  Thoughts on the Flyers.

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Health Update:

A laundry list of injured players.  Began with Dmitry Kulikov who left the game last night and coach Maurice indicated that “I don’t have him in the game tomorrow as of right now” adding that the veteran defenceman is “day-to-day” after he left the game in New Jersey in the 2nd period on Thursday night.  Josh Morrissey who finished the game after receiving a crushing hit into the boards was listed as fine by his coach last night. “Nothing’s changed today.  We expect him to play tomorrow.”.

Mark Scheifele will remain out of the Jets lineup says the Jets bench boss “Will not play tomorrow.  Making improvement.  Be real, real careful with this one.  We just don’t want anything to linger on this where he’s in and out of the lineup for a week or two.  We will wait until he is right.”.

Adam Lowry was on the ice wearing a non-contact uniform again today in practice but the coach says he is making improvement “We’ve added small steps of physical confrontation.  Right now he’s in control of it, so he’s the one leaning on guys.  The next stage will be for them to lean on him a little bit.  But he’s still wearing the gold so he’s not considered”.  Jacob Trouba, who is in a regular uniform, is also getting closer “We’re pushing him as hard as we can.  I don’t have him on this road trip but if he continues to go (this way) just as soon as we get back he may be a player for us.”

Jets goalie Steve Mason who left the morning skate early on Thursday “We don’t think it’s significant right now.  It doesn’t feel right to him.  So we’re going to get as many tests as we need to get it cleared up.  So my information now is this isn’t overly significant, it’s a few days.”  According to coach Maurice the injury occurred during the game against the Rangers.

Starting goalie vs. Flyers:

It will be Connor Hellebuyck getting the start when the Jets take on the Flyers tomorrow afternoon.