The Winnipeg Jets game against the Minnesota Wild can be described a little bit as a roller coaster. As the team scored goals and gained confidence against a sleepy Wild team, they hit their peak with a 4-0 lead. As the game went on and the Jets reached the apex, what goes up must come down and before you know it the game was tied 4-4. But, in the end, Josh Morrissey was there to score the eventual winner, and the Jets took the contest 5-4. Yeah, that was a close one.
Tonight’s opponents are the Philadelphia Flyers, who are on the outside looking in of their playoff race. Most recently, the Flyers beat the Caroline Hurricanes in OT 4-3.
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Who: Winnipeg Jets (32-33-7 for 71 pts) vs Philadelphia Flyers (33-30-8 for 74 pts)
When: 7:00 pm CST
How: TSN3, TSN 1290, CSN-PH, 97.5 The Fanatic
Projected Lineups:
Winnipeg Jets:
Mathieu Perreault – Mark Scheifele – Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers – Bryan Little- Patrik Laine
Marko Dano – Adam Lowry – Joel Armia
Andrew Copp – Nic Petan – Chris Thorburn
Julian Melchiori- Dustin Byfuglien
Brian Strait – Josh Morrissey
Mark Stuart* – Ben Chariot*
Connor Hellebuyck
Micheal Hutchinson
*Nogier has been recalled. Both Stuart and Chariot are ailing, so it’s unclear as to who Nogier is going to replace, if any.
*Enstrom (UBI), Myers (LBI), Pavelec (LBI), Trouba (LBI) Postma (LBI), Matthias (UBI) – Myers is skating with the team on alternate days. Postma is day to day. Trouba out a week. Enstrom’s return depends upon the concussion protocol. Matthias is done for the season with a shoulder injury.
Philadelphia Flyers:
Jordan Weal – Claude Giroux – Wayne Simmons
Travis Konecny – Valterri Filpulla – Jakub Vorachek
Brayden Schenn – Sean Couturier – Matt Read
Chris VandeVelde – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Roman Lyubimov
Ivan Provorov – Andrew MacDonald
Micheal Del Zotto – Radko Gudas
Nick Schultz – Shayne Gostisbehere
Steve Mason
Micheal Neuvirth
Keys to the game:
Winnipeg Jets: Once on the gas, stay on the gas. If you have the lead the finish line doesn’t get any closer faster by coasting.
Philadelphia Flyers: With the playoffs a slim hope, now is the time to let it all hang out.
3 Questions:
- Has Hellebuyck finally solidified the #1 goaltender position? Dunno. Yep. Uh, not sure. Nope. Kinda. Sorta. Um, well? If only? Geez…
- Can the Winnipeg Jets manage to stay out of the penalty box? I say the next player (*Clears throat* Uh Hum, Byfuglien!) who takes a 2 minute minor, should buy the team dinner for bailing his sorry butt out. If the opposing team scores, then said player must play the next game without shin guards!
- What more can the Jets do? Stay healthy! (Phone rings) Hello. It’s Patick! He took out life insurance!
Players to watch:
Winnipeg Jets: Morrissey. He’s quickly becoming the go to guy.
Philadelphia Flyers: Schenn. 3rd line presence, 1st line mentality.
Participants worthy of your rejection and unclean wordplay: Provorov. Just because.
Prediction: Jets 3-2
