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JN Flight Plan #64: Winnipeg Jets @ Buffalo Sabres

By Art Middleton

Feb 23, 2020, 13:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 23, 2020, 13:09 EST

Comments

No time for the Jets to really think about what happened yesterday in Philly as they have a game a little over 24 hours later this afternoon in Buffalo against a surprisingly streaking Sabres club that has decided to get good at the strangest time. Today marks the Jets debut of forward Cody Eakin who was picked up by the Jets on Friday in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. Will his arrival spark the Jets and actually get them to start the game on time? We’ll soon find out…

Winnipeg Jets (32-25-5 / 4th Central)
@
Buffalo Sabres (34-20-7 / 3rd Metro)

Feb 23, 2020 – Puck drop: 2:00 PM CST
KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
TV: TSN 3 – Radio: TSN 1290


@ PHI 4-2 L	Last Game	@ PIT 5-2 W
3-2-0 (1 L)	Last 5 Games	4-1-0 (1 W)
@KYLE CONNOR – 30	Goal Leader	@Jack Eichel – 35
@MARK SCHEIFELE – 40	Assist Leader	Jack Eichel – 42
MARK SCHEIFELE – 66	Points Leader	Jack Eichel – 77
20.63% (14th)	The Power Play	20.45% (16th)
76.73% (25th)	The Penalty Kill	74.56% (30th)
@Connor Hellebuyck (26-19-5 / .918 SV%)	Starting Goalie	@Carter Hutton (12-10-4 / .897 SV%)
W @ OTT (29-30 / .967 SV%)	Last Goalie Start	W @ PIT (41-43 / .953 SV%)
16-12-2 ON ROAD	Road v Home Record	18-10-4 AT HOME

Last Sabres Game

The Sabres started fast – 14 seconds into the game fast – and pounced on a Pittsburgh Penguins club that didn’t know what hit them, and then Carter Hutton held the fort the rest of the game as Buffalo cruised to a 5-2 win in Pittsburgh.

Fun Flyers Facts…

The Sabres are 6-2-2 in afternoon games this season, including a 5-2-0 record at home.
@Henri Jokiharju is expected to appear in his 100th NHL game today.
Jack Eichel has recorded at least a point in each of Buffalo’s last seven games (4+7). It’s his third point streak of at least seven games this season.
@Rasmus Ristolainen has tallied at least one assist in each of Buffalo’s last four games, totaling six assists and a plus-7 rating in those contests.
Carter Hutton has a .973 save percentage in his last five appearances against Winnipeg.

What They’re Saying…

To be honest, most of this discussion on lines is an exercise in futility. Until there’s more talent added to the forward group, there’s not going to be an optimal lineup. If you do want to make a case to move any player off the top line, that player is Reinhart.

The Sabres don’t need to adjust their top line – Die By The Blade

Last Jets Game

The Jets poor starts to games continue to plauge them as they were scored on early and could never fully recover in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Fun Jets Facts…

Defenceman @Neal Pionk registered his 21st power play assist of the season yesterday. It’s the 14th most PPA in a season in franchise history and one shy of matching the franchise record for most PPA by a defenceman in a season.
The Jets are a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill in their past five games and 18-for-19 (94.7%) in their past eight games. Winnipeg is third in the NHL in penalty kill percentage in February at 92.3%.
The Jets are 7-3-1 in afternoon games this season. They are 6-5-0 in games played on Sunday this season, and 4-4-0 in the second game of back-to-backs this season.

What We’re Saying…

After giving up the first goal once again during yesterday’s game, the Jets need to get off to a better start in this one. The Jets were never able to recover from getting down 2-0 in the opening period. Despite playing a better second period, the early deficit cost them two points. It’s always different playing during the afternoon because the routine is different and everything has a different atmosphere but it’s the same for both sides.
I’m not quite sure how to fix it, but the Jets need to score the opening goal and have a strong first period in this game. Especially playing on the second day of a back to back, they can’t get caught chasing the game because they will simply run out of gas.

WTWF: Cody Eakin Makes His Debut As Jets Take On Sabres

Be sure to check out our Twitter feed for any late updates to the game lineups!
You can also get up to the minute lineup combos for the Jets
including power play and penalty kill lines by checking out our line combo page.

Buffalo Sabres Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
VICTOR OLOFSSON Rating: 75.3#29 LW	JACK EICHEL Rating: 81.9#7 C	SAM REINHART Rating: 76.1#18 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 77.79#9 FL1
JEFF SKINNER Rating: 73.1#56 LW	CURTIS LAZAR Rating: 70.2#130 C	MICHAEL FROLIK Rating: 70.3#119 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 71.21#31 FL2
JIMMY VESEY Rating: 71.6#89 LW	MARCUS JOHANSSON Rating: 72.1#82 C	CONOR SHEARY Rating: 72.0#86 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 71.89#16 FL3
ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 69.8#126 LW	JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 70.7#119 C	KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 70.7#110 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 70.39#14 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 75.4#13 LD	COLIN MILLER Rating: 73.0#45 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 74.21#15 DL1
BRANDON MONTOUR Rating: 73.6#43 LD	RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 73.6#32 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 73.59#14 DL2
JAKE MCCABE Rating: 70.5#113 LD	HENRI JOKIHARJU Rating: 71.0#88 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 70.77#26 DL3

GOALIES
CARTER HUTTON Rating: 66.4#45 G1	JONAS JOHANSSON Rating: 67.5#35 G2

Winnipeg Jets Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
NIKOLAJ EHLERS Rating: 76.2#19 LW	MARK SCHEIFELE Rating: 77.4#17 C	BLAKE WHEELER Rating: 77.2#9 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 76.95#10 FL1
KYLE CONNOR Rating: 78.2#8 LW	ANDREW COPP Rating: 73.3#54 C	PATRIK LAINE Rating: 75.2#26 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 75.56#5 FL2
JANSEN HARKINS	CODY EAKIN Rating: 70.8#113 C	JACK ROSLOVIC Rating: 72.5#71 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 71.70#18 FL3
GABRIEL BOURQUE Rating: 67.5#144 LW	NICK SHORE Rating: 70.6#122 C	MASON APPLETON Rating: 70.6#111 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 69.56#26 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
JOSH MORRISSEY Rating: 73.7#38 LD	TUCKER POOLMAN Rating: 71.3#85 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 72.50#27 DL1
DMITRY KULIKOV Rating: 70.9#107 LD	NEAL PIONK Rating: 74.8#24 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 72.85#20 DL2
NATHAN BEAULIEU Rating: 71.4#93 LD	DYLAN DEMELO Rating: 71.1#87 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 71.24#23 DL3