Tonight the Winnipeg Jets test their new found commitment to team defense by taking on the leagues leading offensive juggernaut, Pittsburgh Penguins. The Jets are riding high, but this will be a new test. Can Winnipeg help regression kick in and keep their long run title as streak busters? Or will they be exiled for singing the wrong song and having happy feet?
The game is being broadcast on TSN3 and can be heard on TSN 1290. Puck drop is at 7:00.
Lineups
Winnipeg Jets
Andrew Ladd – Bryan Little – Michael Frolik
Evander Kane – Mark Scheifele – Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault – Adam Lowry – Dustin Byfuglien
TJ Galiardi – Jim Slater – Chris Thorburn
Tobias Enstrom – Zach Bogosian
Mark Stuart – Jacob Trouba
Grant Clitsome – Paul Postma
Ondrej Pavelec
Michael Hutchinson
Scratched: Matt Halischuk, Adam Pardy
Injured: Anthony Peluso (upper body)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Patric Hornqvist
Pascal Dupuis – Evgeni Malkin – Blake Comeau
Nick Spaling – Brandon Sutter – Steve Downie
Zach Sill – Marcel Goc – Craig Adams
Paul Martin – Kris Letang
Christian Ehrhoff – Robert Bortuzzo
Rob Scuderi – Simon Despres
Marc Andre Fleury
Thomas Greiss
Player to Watch
Bryan Little will likely be tasked with slowing down Mr. Crosby. That isn't an easy task and frankly isn't one he is likely to succeed at. BUT Bryan Little can still score goals. If Little and his line can break even with the Crosby line on the score sheet, possession be damned, the Jets will have a chance.
Granted, the Pens will still have the Malkin, but the Pens roster really isn't deep. Blake Comeau next to Geno? Really? He has had early success, but he is no world beater. Where the Jets could win the battle is on the third line, where Dustin Byfuglien and Mathieu Perreault.
