The Jets are out at the IcePlex following a day off on Wednesday as they get ready to face Tyler Myers and his Vancouver Canucks tomorrow night at Bell MTS Place for the first time.
Prior to skate getting underway the team announced they had recalled Joona Luoto from the Moose while also placing Bryan Little on IR.
Skate News:
As per Ken Wiebe of The Athletic Winnipeg defenceman Tucker Poolman is on the ice in a regular uniform after missing the last game against the Devils who adds that Gabriel Bourque is not on the ice this morning. Ken also indicated the line rushes and D pairs listed below although he states it is unclear which is the third pairing of D men and which is the fourth.
Captain Blake Wheeler returns to the middle where he played a few seasons back when Mark Scheifele was injured and had success. The fan base seems energized by the move.
Line Rushes:
Connor-Scheifele-Laine
Ehlers-Wheeler-Roslovic
Copp-Lowry-Perreault
Luoto-Gustafsson-Shaw
Morrissey-Poolman
Kulikov-Pionk
Beaulieu-Dahlstrom
Bitetto-Sbisa
Audio:
Blake Wheeler
Mark Scheifele
Nikolaj Ehlers
Coach Maurice: Update on Bryan Little. Dealing with the bench after the injury. Why is now the right time to split up 55/26? Who are the best talkers on defence who will help with Wheeler’s transition? Not moving Andrew Copp to centre. What is up with Gabriel Bourque? Would he consider Copp/Lowry and Wheeler? On the recall of Joona Luoto. Is the move to the middle for Wheeler an attempt to spark him? Benefits to getting Wheeler additional touches? What was Wheeler’s reaction to the news of a potential move to the middle? The challenges this season has presented. Update on Poolman? On the depth being tested. Has this season brought the room together?
All audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.
Health News:
Coach Maurice provided updates on some of his injured players. Bryan Little has a perforated eardrum and is presently dealing with vertigo. Gabriel Bourque is out a minimum of four-weeks with a lower-body injury. Lastly, he indicated that Tucker Poolman is good to go today but was dealing with a migraine adding “I’ll say he’s available for tomorrow assuming that he comes in tomorrow and feels 100%.”
Up Next:
The Jets will continue this home stand with a game against the Canucks tomorrow night. Be sure to keep it locked to illegalcurve.com for the AM Papers which go live at 7 AM.
