The Winnipeg jets return to home ice to face the Vancouver Canucks after a dominant showing on Thursday that led to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The trade deadline has passed, though, and the Jets will be looking at several changes to the lineup.
Of note, Winnipeggers will get their first look at Isak Rosén tonight, the promising add to our forward depth received as part of the Stanley/Schenn trade. Jacob Bryson will also likely make an appearance on 3D paired with Heinola; while small, he's a good puck mover that should be able to help break out of the defensive end. Lambert will also play tonight, called up from the Moose yesterday, likely making him a fixture while the forward core deals with injuries.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti - Adam Lowry - Gabriel Vilardi
Gustav Nyquist - Jonathan Toews - Isak Rosén
Cole Koepke - Morgan Barron - Brad Lambert
Defense
Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg - Elias Salomonsson
Hayden Fleury - Jacob Bryson
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck (starting)
Eric Comrie
Jets win 3–2 in overtime!
I updated the lines with the latest projected lineup. Not sure about that 3rd line, but I’m guessing Arniel wants to pair Rosén with some experience; that said, if he can move the puck well and help get some controlled entries, I could see it working okay, though I hope he’s ultimately destined to be a 2nd line player so Iafallo can use his grit on the 3rd or 4th line.
Not sure about playing Fleury over Heinola but I could see wanting a bit more size on the 3D line.
I’ll also be really curious to see how Nyquist plays tonight. Getting that goal last game is clearly a huge monkey off his back, and while I don’t think he’s ever heading back to his performance of a couple years ago, I wonder if he can get some regular production going.
Overall I’m pretty happy with how the game went; Vancouver’s goalie nearly stole the game for them but the Jets didn’t give up. Rosén looked good for the quick turnaround to a new team, but surprise surprise it felt like he was a bit limited by his linemates. Bryson was a surprise; he was very good at moving the puck and I didn’t notice too many major defensive lapses from him; aside from size, he’ll easily replace what we lost on the back-end, especially if Morrissey and Pionk can be relatively productive D-men on the offence.
Lambert…I’m going to give him a few more games. There’s obviously some talent but he makes a lot dead plays that turn the puck over. That said, the 4th line is rocking it right now and I’m happy to see them on the ice.
A GDT on Lemmy? What is this magic?
I’m trying! Maybe a if you build it, they will come kind of thing!
Won't have time to watch it, but this I think the game where we figure out if Winnipeg is a lottery team or a bubble team.
Jets game on in the background, surrounded by pictures of Winnipeg... My guests will just have to tolerate this ;)
In conclusion. The tank has become stuck in the mud.
That 2nd goal on the PP was pretty sweet!
Vilardi has such good hands whenever he can get 2 feet of space in front of the net. In many ways he’s an average to better than average player, but in that one aspect, he’s elite.