Winnipeg Jets vs Philadelphia Flyers

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:

1. Has Hellebuyck finally solidified the #1 goaltender position? Dunno. Yep. Uh, not sure. Nope. Kinda. Sorta. Um, well? If only? Geez...
2. 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!
3. 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