Winnipeg Jets vs New York Islanders

The Winnipeg Jets put together quite the game against the Nashville Predators on Monday night. After a shut out loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, the team rebounded and put in a much better effort, and came away with a point as they lost in overtime 5-4. After the game, the team flew to Newark, New Jersey for their scheduled Tuesday night game versus the New Jersey Devils. However, Mother Nature had other plans, and the game was postponed. No worries, as the team used the new found day to relax and heal a few bumps and bruises. Yesterday, the team practiced, then made their way to New York City, the site of today’s match-up with the New York Islanders.

NHL.com

The New York Islanders are in the thick of things in their wildcard race, and most recently beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in OT on Tuesday night.

Where: Barclays Center, New York City, NY

Who: Winnipeg Jets (30-33-7 for 67 pts) vs New York Islanders (33-25-11 for 77 pts)

When: 6:00 pm CST

How: TSN3, TSN 1290, MSG2, WRHU

Projected Lineups:

Winnipeg Jets:

Ehlers - Scheifele - Wheeler

Perreault - Little- Laine

Matthias - Lowry - Armia

Dano - Copp - Thorburn

Chariot - Byfuglien

Morrissey - Trouba

Stuart - Postma

Hellebuyck

Hutchinson

*Petan could draw in, as the Jets seemed to be a beat up bunch, so we’ll see what happens at game time

*Melchiori likely out, Trouba likely in.

*Enstrom (UBI), Myers (LBI), Pavelec (LBI) - Myers is skating with the team on alternate days, and according to his coach, been getting stronger every time he laces up the skates.

New York Islanders:

Lee - Taveres - Bailey

Ladd - Strome - Ho-Sang

Kulemin - Beauvillier - Chimera

Gionta - Quine - Clutterbuck

Leddy - Pelech

de Haan - Hamonic

Hickey - Seidenberg

Greiss

Berube

Keys to the game:

Winnipeg Jets: Play like they did versus Nashville, with out the penalties though.

New York Islanders: Concentrate on gaining 2 points.

3 Questions:

1. Has Hellebuyck finally solidified the #1 goaltender position? Again, we’re not sure. Hellebuyck seems to have lots of peaks and valleys in his game.
2. Can the Winnipeg Jets manage to stay out of the penalty box? I say the next player who takes a 2 minute minor, has to donate $2500 to a charity.
3. What more can the Jets do? Play like their lives literally depend upon winning.

Players to watch:

Winnipeg Jets: Byfuglien. No more mister nice guy, but no more penalties either.

New York Islanders: Ladd. A leader of the team on the cusp of making the playoffs.

Participants worthy of your rejection and unclean wordplay: The other 66, Ho-Sang.

Prediction: Jets 3-2