Time: 8:00 PM CST
TV: TSN 3
Radio: TSN 1290
Introduction:
It’s the last game of 2018 for the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers. Both teams need to go into the new year on a winning note, as both have struggled as of late. Dustin Byfuglien has been confirmed out for at least four weeks with a lower body injury (knee?). It’s difficult to determine whether four weeks is optimistic or not as the Jets do not typically disclose the specifics of injuries, unless it’s a concussion, which I don’t fully understand the rationale behind. Joe Morrow is back in the line up tonight, and Sami Niku has been called up from the Moose for insurance.
The Oilers are heading into a crucial stretch in the season as their wildcard playoff hopes could slip away over the next few weeks unless they start putting together some wins. Edmonton general manager Peter Chiarelli is justifiably on the hot seat, and in response made a couple of minor trades to shake up the roster acquiring Alex Petrovic from the Florida Panthers, and Brandon Manning and Robin Norell from the Chicago Blackhawks. It appears that one of the criteria Chiarelli has when considering trades is did the player in question possibly intentionally injure my team’s best player. If the answer is “yes”, it’s a good trade. I can’t see Chiarelli keeping his job if the team with the best player in the world misses the playoffs again.
Random Prediction:
Goal for Joe Morrow
Winnipeg Jets Line Up:
Forwards
Nikolaj Ehlers-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor-Bryan Little-Patrik Laine
Mathieu Perreault-Adam Lowry-Brandon Tanev
Andrew Copp-Jack Roslovic-Mason Appleton
Defence
Josh Morrissey-Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot-Tyler Myers
Dmitry Kulikov-Joe Morrow
Goalies
Laurent Brossoit
Connor Hellebuyck
Injuries
Dustin Byfuglien (lower body, IR)
Edmonton Oilers Line Up:
Forwards
Jujhar Khaira-Connor McDavid-Ty Rattie
Ryan Spooner-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Jesse Puljujarvi
Tobias Rieder-Leon Draisaitl-Kailer Yamamoto
Milan Lucic-Kyle Brodziak-Zack Kassian
Defence
Darnell Nurse-Alex Petrovic
Caleb Jones-Adam Larsson
Brandon Manning-Matt Benning
Goalies
Mikko Koskinen
Cam Talbot
Injuries:
Andrej Sekera, Oscar Klefbom, Alex Chiasson
