Photo by James Carey Lauder
The Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars are set to do battle in Game 2 from Canada Life Centre on Friday night.
Once again facing off in the late-night, 8:52 PM central time slot, the two very central clubs will be up late determining the series standings before the best-of-seven shifts to Texas for Games 3 and 4 over the next four days.
Winnipeg will be playing with its strongest possible offensive lineup, as Josh Morrissey is expected to return to the fold, joining Nikolaj Ehlers, Gabe Vilardi and Mark Scheifele, who have each returned from respective injuries over the course of the past couple weeks.
In order to accommodate Morrissey back into lineup, Luke Schenn will draw out. Already without Logan Stanley, Schenn will join him in the press box, where the two heavyweights will watch a lighter, smoother skating back-end in hopes of matching some Stars speed on Friday.
On the flip side, Dallas will not yet have Miro Heiskanen back on the blueline, who remains out with a knee injury.
Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Game 2 vs. the Dallas Stars on Friday:
Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Tanev-Barron-Iafallo
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Miller
Hellebuyck
Injured: Stanley
Healthy scratches: Schenn, Kupari, Gustafsson, Heinola
Dallas Stars expected line combinations for Game 2 vs. the Winnipeg Jets on Friday:
Granlund-Hintz-Rantanen
Benn-Duchene-Seguin
Robertson-Johnston-Marchment
Back-Steel-Dadanov
Harley-Lyubushkin
Lindell-Ceci
Bichsel-Petrovic
Oettinger