The Winnipeg Jets are getting ready to take on the Arizona Coyotes for the first time this season. The games between these two division rival franchises will be important if either of them want to end up in the post-season when the horn blows on game #82.
Unrelated to todays’ game, it was a nice touch by True North and the Winnipeg Jets to hire a private plane to allow the Minnesotans on the team the chance to fly to Adam Johnson’s funeral on Sunday. The players that will be attending include Neal Pionk, Alex Iafallo, Dylan Samberg, Dominic Toninato, & Nate Schmidt. Turns out that Pionk was good friends with Adam, who was in Neal’s wedding party, and the Minnesota-born defenseman will be a speaker at Johnson’s celebration of life.
Probably could do some more here, but am coming up with a blank and the Manitoba Moose game is nearing it’s 2 pm start. So this will have to do. Here’s the projected lines for today’s match:
Winnipeg Jets Lineup
Forwards
Connor – Scheifele – Iafallo
Perfetti – Namestnikov – Ehlers
Niederreiter – Lowry – Appleton
Barron – Kupari – Gustafsson
Defense
Morrissey – DeMelo
Dillon – Pionk
Samberg – Schmidt
Goalies
Hellebuyck
Brossoit
Injuries: Vilardi – F, Heinola – D
Arizona Coyotes Lineup
Forwards
Keller – Hayton – Schmaltz
Maccelli – Bjugstad – Crouse
Carcone – Cooley – Boyd
O’Brien – McBain – Kerfoot
Defense
Moser – Durzi
Dermott – Dumba
Valimaki – Stecher
Goalies
Vejmelka
Ingram
Injuries: All long-term: Voracek – F, Little – F, Zucker – F, & Weber – D
It will be fun to see the young and possibly up & coming Coyotes this afternoon, but I am hoping that the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 can overcome the original franchise in Arizona. The Jets are playing in their second afternoon matinee this season, having won the previous game 6 to 4 versus the Florida Panthers.
Can the Jets actually get some goals from their powerplay, while their penalty killers stop the hot Coyotes man-advantage units? Will Hellebuyck get to celebrate another victory over Arizona like he is in the photo at the top? Let’s hear how you think today’s game will play out.
