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WPG Vs. BUF: A must win game for the Jets, still in reach of playoffs |
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The Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres face-off tonight, in what should be a fun game. The Jets, who are needing two points in every upcoming game, while the Sabres have been doing a great job of playing spoiler.
The Jets top-six has been playing very well as of late, and with Buffalo having some inconsistencies in net, it may be a prime opportunity to strike big and score lots. That being said, the Sabres also have some pretty impressive offensive output at times.
While the Sabres will not be making the playoffs, as the East has been pretty well set since Christmas, they have been playing good hockey all year. Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and even Kyle Okposo are having good years up front, while they have Rasmus Dahlin leading the way on the back end. This isn't a freebie tonight, for the Jets.
I expect to see the Jets try and come out of the gate fast tonight, and with quite a few days off this week, they should be well rested. The Connor-Dubois duo, regardless of who is lined up on the wing, whether it be Ehlers, Svechnikov, or Wheeler bumped down, they are more than ready to make an impact. Scheifele has been making lots of great offensive efforts, and the depth has been doing their job. One of the biggest things for me to watch, will be Ville Heinola. He should be given lots of opportunity again tonight, and make an impact as well.
I am wondering, though, when the defensive pairings will get a shakeup. Putting in Heinola is a great step, but almost all of the pairings have glaring flaws, and the Jets haven't really tried anything else this season.
As more information comes out before the game today, this blog will be updated.
Updates:
Kyle Connor and Nate Schmidt have been placed in the NHL's COVID Protocol.
Projected Lineup vs. BUF:
Stastny-Scheifele-Ehlers
Svechnikov-Dubois-Wheeler
Sanford-Lowry-Appleton
Harkins-Toninato-Brooks
Morrissey-DeMelo
Stanley-Dillon
Heinola-Pionk
Hellebuyck starts
Now, Connor and Schmidt being placed in COVID Protocol hurts. The current lineup is probably the most optimal, all things considered. A few things I would like to point out is Wheeler being bumped down, Dillon playing his off-side, and Heinola-Pionk pairing up.
Blake Wheeler has been alongside Scheifele for what feels like forever. In his last 11 games, Wheeler has points in 10 of them, tallying 14 total points. Will being seperated from Mark Scheifele have an impact? Im not sure. Dubois can get a lot of offense rolling, and though Connor does a lot of the work there, too, I think that second line can provide sufficient work tonight.
The defense looks quite different with just Nate Schmidt coming out. The Stanley- Dillon pairing could have fans pretty nervous for the 20 minutes they will spend on the ice. Stanley and Dillon havent played together, and Dillon hasn't played the right side of the ice. I expect to see some miscommunications between them tonight, and will likely see Dillon drifting back over to the left side on occasion. This is not a knock at either player. Defenders need to play together for a period of time to get comfortable. WIth a (likely) unconfident Stanley, and Dillon on the right, I don't see them being an effective pairing.
Heinola-Pionk, on the other hand, I am extremely excited to watch. This pair has the ability to take charge in this game. Both defenseman have great offensive instincts, and Heinola is playing for a full-time job. I expect a lot of noise surrounding these guys tonight. Defensively, they may be shakey together, but neither one is a pure offensive guy, and I can definitely see this pairing working out. It will be interesting to see Pionk away from Dillon.
Let me know your thoughts ahead of this big game for the Jets, and what, if any, changes should be made
Jacob
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
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