The Jets arrive in Chicago with one big question still hanging over them: Josh Morrissey’s status. Winnipeg left town Thursday after an optional practice, and the only fresh update on the defenseman was that he remains day-to-day.
That doesn’t sound especially encouraging for tonight, though the real answer may not come until morning skate. Because Winnipeg didn’t hold a full team skate yesterday, there could still be some lineup tweaks, but the sense is they may stick close to the group that handled Minnesota in their last win.
Chicago, meanwhile, is trying to dig out after a rough opening stretch. The Blackhawks started 1-5-0 before getting a lift from captain Connor Bedard’s return, and he helped them beat Pittsburgh in his first game back.
They were never expected to be a playoff team this season, but they do have a clear goal of avoiding another trip toward the bottom of the standings. One interesting wrinkle: the Blackhawks have scored about as many goals as Winnipeg this season, but the difference has been at the other end, where Chicago has had far more trouble keeping the puck out.
Puck drop is set for 11:30 AM CT.
Winnipeg’s projected lineup has Connor-Scheifele-Perfetti up front, with Niederrieter-Björck-Vilardi, Rosén-Lowry-Iafallo, and Koepke-Barron-Namestnikov rounding out the forward groups. The defensive pairs are listed as Samberg-DeMelo, Ferraro-Pionk, and Fleury-Bauer, with Skinner.
Chicago’s projected lines and pairs are Kantserov-Bedard-Kane, Bertuzzi-Frondell-Teräväinen, Moore-Toninato-Donatp, and Smith-Greene-Greenway. On defense, it’s Byram-Levshunov, Vlasic-Cole, and Kaiser-Rinzel, with Knight and Söderblom. Those were the same combinations the Blackhawks used in their last game, according to Hawks writer for The Athletic Mark Lazerus.
The odds setup gives Winnipeg a slight edge in this Central Division matchup, with both clubs looking to build on wins from their previous outings. The Jets are coming off a convincing victory over Minnesota, while Chicago’s boost from Bedard’s return adds a different layer to the night. For Winnipeg, the path is pretty clear: get off to a strong start, stay disciplined, and keep getting contributions from throughout the lineup.
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Clay Stevensons mixed work in the backup role has only sharpened the focus on Skinners next stretch. The Jets needed stability in net, and Skinner has provided it so far, but that also means the pressure is now on him to keep it going while the crease starts to sort itself out. If he can hold this level, Winnipegs goalie picture gets clearer fast. [Read more 🡒]