GDT: Winnipeg Jets vs Tampa Bay Lightning

If you watched the Winnipeg Jets vs the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, there was a lot of emphasis on the Jets being 8 points back of the Colorado Avalanche for the final wild card spot with 4 games in hand.  Meaning, the Jets put up a strong performance over the remaining games, and a playoff run could be in sight.  I'm not convinced the team believes the hype, as they really didn't start to pull it together until 10 minutes to go in the third period.  Now, the standings may have changed when this article is published, but what are the chances?  What are the odds the Jets make it to the playoffs? And if the playoffs are in sight, won't that hurt the chances of securing a top 5 draft pick, one that could help with the long term success of the franchise.  What's more important...this season, or next?  These are all sixty four thousand dollar questions.  Tonight, the Winnipeg Jets face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are coming off a 4-2 loss against the San Jose Sharks.  Will this be another late 3rd period cliffhanger?

TV:

6:30 pm CST, TSN 3, SUN,  TSN 1290,

Winnipeg Jets Projected Lineup:

Nikolaj Ehlers - Mark Scheifele - Blake Wheeler

Drew Stafford - Bryan Little - Mathieu Perreault

Joel Armia - Adam Lowry - Andrew Ladd

Alexander Burmistrov- Andrew Copp - Chris Thorburn

Dustin Byfuglien - Jacob Trouba

Tyler Myers - Toby Enstrom

Ben Chariot - Adam Pardy

Ondrej Pavelec

Micheal Hutchinson

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lineup:

Alex Killorn - Steven Stamkos - Ryan Callahan

Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov

Cedric Paquette - Valtteri Filppula - J.T. Brown

Jonathan Marchessault - Brian Boyle

Victor Hedman - Andrej Sustr

Matthew Carle - Anton Stralman

Nikita Nesterov - Braydon Coburn

Slater Koekkoek

Ben Bishop

Andrei Vasilevskiy

* It's not uncommon for Tampa Bay to dress 7 defencemen, as they did this most recently in their game against the San Jose Sharks.

Player to boo, jeer and sneer at wildly:

Steven Stamkos is practically a Maple Leaf, according to the Toronto media.  Unleash the fury only a Maple Leaf player would understand.

Prediction:

Jets 2-1

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

THN Rumor Roundup containing news on Andrew Ladd being the top trade chip this year

Hockeybuzz article suggesting problems in the Jets dressing room

CBC article on reasons to be optimistic in the Jets making the playoffs

Winnipeg Sun article regarding the Jets bag skating practice on Wednesday, after the loss to the Huricanes

Sportsnet has an article regarding Andrew Ladd & Toby Enstrom trade talk, while discussing Jacob Trouba's extension.