Winnipeg Jets vs Edmonton Oilers Preview: The Second of Two
The Winnipeg Jets close out a two-game away series against the Edmonton Oilers tonight at 9:00 p.m. central time.
On Monday night in Edmonton, the Jets edged the Oilers by a score of 6-5 in a wide open, high scoring, 1980’s style hockey game. It was exciting hockey to watch, but a dangerous precedent to set against a team with the offensive fire power of the Oilers.
Also concerning was that the Jets were up in the game twice by scores of 4-1 and 5-2, and let the Oilers come back to tie the game at 5-5.
Blake Wheeler scored the game winner for the Winnipeg Jets on a tip-in of a Josh Morrissey point shot.
The Jets hung on in the late stages of the game as the Oilers pressed with superstar Connor McDavid leading the way looking to send the game into overtime.
Coach Paul Maurice and the Jets players acknowledged post-game that they would like to play a tighter game on Wednesday, as trying to out score a team with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is not a great strategy.
Odds
The Action network lists the Jets as the visiting Jets as slight underdogs in tonight’s matchup.
Where you can Find the Game
TV: TSN3, TVAS, SNW, NBCSN
Radio: 680 CJOB
Livestream: TSN.ca, TSN app
Projected Lineups
. 9-5-1. . Winnipeg Jets. 3. team. 107
Pierre Luc Dubois skated with the team on Tuesday but is not expected to return to the lineup tonight against the Oilers. It has been frustrating for Dubois and Jets fans as unlike the players he was traded for, Dubois was required to quarantine for two weeks when he first arrived.
It is reasonable to think that period of inactivity contributed to Dubois sustaining a “tweak” type injury in only his second game with the Jets. The good news is that Dubois has been an extremely durable player in his career, having never missed a game due to injury prior to this.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Copp-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Stastny-Ehlers
Perreault-Lowry-Appleton
Vesalainen-Harkins-Lewis
Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Beaulieu-DeMelo
Hellebuyck (Brossoit)
9-8. . Edmonton Oilers. 4. team. 148.
The Oilers continue to fight the injury bug on defense as William Lagesson now joins Ethan Bear on the day-to-day injured list. Oscar Klefbom is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Upfront the Oilers have been shuffling their forward lines trying to find the best combinations to spread out their talent in their top six. Coach Dave Tippett has paired McDavid and Draisaitl together at times this season, which creates a nightmare for opponents, but an imbalance for the Oilers’ other three lines.
Goaltender Mike Smith was chased from the net after giving up four goals in the first 11 shots on Monday night. Expect the Oilers to start Mikko Koskinen who looked much more solid in relief.
The Oilers are expected to lineup like this:
Nugent Hopkins-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Kahun-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Shore-Turris-Chaisson
Ennis-Khaira-Archibald
Nurse-Barrie
Russell-Larsson
Koekkoek-Bouchard
Koskinen (Smith)
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Winnipeg Jets win tonight in Edmonton? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*