It’s one of those games you circle on your calendar (provided you still have one that can be marked up) as Nikolaj Ehlers is in Winnipeg to play a game against his former team for the first time since he signed a six-year deal with the Hurricanes in early July. He was drafted by the Jets in 2014 in Philadelphia and would go on to spend ten seasons in Manitoba. Expect a festive building and a huge welcome back from the Friendly Manitoba crowd.

Carolina is coming off a shootout loss to Minnesota in a game they dominated but came up against a hot goaltender for the Wild. Somewhat shockingly they have the 31st ranked power play units in the entire NHL with just the 19th overall penalty killing unit which goes to tell you how effective their 5 on 5 game must be.

Winnipeg on the other hand has climbed in both special teams categories to 6th on the PP and 6th on the PK.

About the only known question mark is the status of Haydn Fleury who wore a yellow, non-contact at morning skate on Tuesday and then didn’t take part in practice on Wednesday.

Skate news:

Starts at 10:30 AM.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Namestnikov-Toews-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Lowry-Iafallo
Pearson-Barron-Nyquist

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Stanley-Schenn

Hellebuyck

Hurricanes projected lines & D pairs:

Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Ehlers – Stankover – Blake
Carrier – Staal – Martinook
Hall – Jankowski – Robinson

Gostisbehere – Walker
Miller – Nystrom
Nikishin – Reilly

Andersen
Bussi

Based on their last game against the Wild.

Players media availability:

To follow.

Coach media availability:

To follow.

Odds:

The Jets take on a Hurricanes team that sits first in the Metro Division and has gone 7-3-1 in their last ten, leading the NHL in goals scored. Winnipeg counters with one of the league’s stingiest defenses, having allowed the third fewest goals in the NHL, and comes in with a couple extra days of rest. Both teams bring momentum into the matchup, but the schedule—and a slight nod from the oddsmakers—gives the Jets a chance to leverage their freshness. Tonight, it will come down to whether Winnipeg’s disciplined defense can contain Carolina’s high-powered offense and turn that advantage into a big home-ice victory. For the latest Winnipeg Jets hockey odds, visit NHL betting site Betway.

Up Next:

Drew, Ezra and I will bring you up to speed on all that happened at morning skate at Canada Life Centre and then look ahead to puck drop on a Special Edition of Illegal Curve Hockey starting at 12 noon CST. We’ll also discuss the five-year extension signed by captain Adam Lowry on Wednesday as well as the rumour that prospect Brad Lambert is seeking to be traded elsewhere.

Puck drop is at 7 PM CDT. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. You can join us on our YouTube channel for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 9:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.