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The Winnipeg Jets are hours away from an important Friday night time residence sport, with puck drop arising shortly after 7 pm CT. Sitting tied on the high of the NHL standings with the Washington Capitals at 94 factors, the Jets can be seeking to defeat a group that’s just under them within the standings: the Dallas Stars. After buying Mikko Rantanen on the NHL commerce deadline, the Stars have been on a roll, going 8-2-0 of their final 10 video games. The Stars now have come inside 8 factors (with 2 video games in hand) of the Jets for the lead within the Central Division.
One of many questions going into tonight’s sport was on the well being of each Neal Pionk and Nikolaj Ehlers. The Jets only in the near past acquired a totally wholesome squad, however Pionk and Ehlers missed a 2nd straight day of follow yesterday. Scott Arniel stated he was going to attend till this morning’s skate to supply an replace, and now now we have some readability on their statuses. Ehlers is coping with a minor undisclosed damage, however Mitchell Clinton (a author for the Winnipeg Jets) confirmed that he can be within the lineup tonight. Regardless of lacking follow the final 2 days, Ehlers stated he felt able to play tonight. In 57 video games this season, Ehlers is scoring at some extent per sport tempo, amassing 21 targets and 36 assists.
The information wasn’t as constructive for Pionk although, as Scott Arniel confirmed this morning that Neal Pionk goes to be out week-to-week with a decrease physique damage. I’ve talked about it earlier than how I want groups would offer extra readability on the specifics of an damage (like they might years in the past), however evidently higher or decrease physique accidents are the best way that groups go now when reporting and itemizing accidents. Pionk wasn’t on the ice for morning skate, and following the skate Scott Arniel spoke to the media to supply this replace.
Throughout his damage replace on Pionk, Arniel talked about that will probably be week-to-week as they’ll proceed to observe his standing. Arniel additionally talked about that this damage is one thing that Pionk has been making an attempt to play by way of lately. The group and the coaching workers determined that they didn’t need the damage to get any worse, in order that they made the choice to take a cautious method and relaxation him now. It’s robust information for Pionk, who has had a greater than anticipated season to date for the Jets. In 66 video games, Pionk has scored 9 targets and 28 assists for 37 factors. Pionk sits 1 aim away from tying his profession excessive in targets (10), and eight factors away from making an attempt his profession better of 45 factors, all whereas holding a profession finest +/- of +21.
With Pionk out of the lineup, Colin Miller slots again in on the third defence pairing alongside Haydn Fleury. Luke Schenn makes the soar to the 2nd pairing with Dylan Samberg, which can be an attention-grabbing pairing to observe develop chemistry whereas Pionk is out. The remainder of the Jets projected lineup stays unchanged, and no different gamers are listed on the Jets damage report.
Puck drop for the Stars at Jets sport begins barely after 7 pm CT tonight, and ensure to verify again right here at Jets Nation for a publish sport recap on this necessary Central Division matchup!
