The Jets returned to Winnipeg on Wednesday after suffering two more defeats during their three-game road trip in California. The loss to the Sharks was particularly costly as it came on the same day the Flames and Predators both won and narrowed the gap between themselves and the Jets. Winnipeg currently sits with 85 points, Calgary has 83 and Nashville has 82 (with two games in hand). The slide by the local NHL club has ensure that they will be scoreboard watching for the final stretch of the 2022-23 season.
Skate news:
An interesting development today as Mark Scheifele moves to the wing. Ehlers moves up, Niederreiter moves down and Namestnikov moves back to the middle.
Assistant coach Brad Lauer still not on the ice but he is on the bench watching practice.
Lines and D pairs:
Connor-Dubois-Scheifele
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Wheeler
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Stenlund-Maenalanen
Kuhlman-Gustafsson-Jonsson-Fjallby
Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Schmidt
Stanley-Capobianco
Hellebuyck
Rittich
Player media availability:
Coach media availability:
Topics:
1) His thoughts on moving Mark Scheifele to the wing?
2) What has he liked about 55 on the wing? (:52)
3) The post-game comments and if they reflect a difference of opinion (1:26)
4) His sit downs with players who are not “emptying the tank” (2:52)
5) Defensive zone play costing them games? (3:22)
6) Is he comfortable that those players “not giving their all” will do so? (4:21)
7) Importance for Mark Scheifele to get scoring again? (4:50)
8) Are past problems creeping back in? (5:18)
9) Is the team still following their summer pledge? (5:55)
10) Putting a player with Lowry/Appleton to get them going (6:53)
11) How does he compare this challenge to other he’s had previously? (7:57)
12) Given this stretch, whether he regrets not retiring? (9:13)
13) Who will create chaos in front in his top six? (10:12)
14) Dealing with a stubbornness in the way players play (11:47)
15) On coaches losing their cool (12:43)
Merch contest:
We are at the end of March and there is one chance left to enter and win the IC contest for authentic Jets merch. You can enter here.
Up next:
The Jets take on the Red Wings tomorrow night. Be sure start your morning with the Morning Papers which go live at 7 AM, stick with us for the latest Jets news and then join us after the final buzzer on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show.
