Time: 7:00 PM CDT
Channel: TSN3
Radio: TSN1290
The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to .500 on the season which is exactly where their opponent tonight, the New York Islanders, are as well. The Jets have played two more games than the Islanders, but that difference should start to be made up shortly as the Jets will be off for a little bit of time in preparation for the Heritage Classic in Regina.
I missed most of the game against the Arizona Coyotes, but if previous games are any indication the Jets were playing their normal kind of lost in the defensive zone style of play. That’s not a great way of trying to win, but this is season number two of this style. It begs the question: if the Jets are struggling this much defensively why Ville Heinola is not playing.
Which brings us to the Jets and their use of young players: David Gustafsson finally made his season debut last game. Ville Heinola has not played for three games in a row. Last season we rarely saw Sami Niku be given a chance even though he spent most of the year with the Jets. The season before that it was Nic Petan. The Jets have made a habit of sitting young players in the NHL instead of allowing them to play in the AHL even if it is detrimental to their long-term development. Their young players would probably have more success when played if they were playing regularly somewhere.
Prediction:
Just win, baby!
