GAMEDAY: Rangers at Jets

WINNIPEG – 

WINNIPEG –– The Jets return home for a quick stop at Canada Life Centre when they host the New York Rangers at 6:30 pm CT.

It marks the return of long-time captain Blake Wheeler, as the Minnesota product comes in for the first time wearing another team’s jersey here in the Manitoba capital. Mark Scheifele said it will be challenging to keep the emotions in check when the welcome back video plays tonight.

“You just think about all the times you had with him. I spent 11 years of my life with him, a lot of really fun memories, a lot of fun exciting games , a lot of good times, tough times, side by side with him throughout it all,” said Scheifele.

“So, it definitely will be tough to keep the emotions in but obviously super proud to know him and have him as a friend and very lucky to have him there.”

Josh Morrissey feels it will be weird to see the former Jet captain on the other side.

“Up until this season, since I came into the team, he was the captain while I was always on the team. He's been here since I got drafted to this team. Basically 10 years with him. It’s going to be weird to see him on the other side. I have a ton of admiration for him,” said Morrissey.

“He’s a great friend. We shared a lot of great times as a group and together. It’s going to be weird, no doubt. But once the game gets going, like I said I went against him a ton in practice every year, right winger on left D, dump in on my corner, so I’m expecting to see that a few times tonight for sure.”

The Jets took three out of a possible four points on their recent trip so there were not any changes to the lineup during the morning skate.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo

Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers

Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton

Barron-Kupari-Gustafsson

Morrissey-DeMelo

Dillon-Pionk

Samberg-Schmidt

Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal tonight.

CHANGES TO THE POWER PLAY

Winnipeg has been struggling to gain momentum while on the power play as shown over their last four games going1-for-15 over that stretch. Interim head coach Scott Arniel made some changes to the two power play units as Cole Perfetti joins Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo and Josh Morrissey and Nikolaj Ehlers is with Vlad Namestnikov, Nino Niederreiter, Neal Pionk and Nate Schmidt.

“It had a little bit more to do with early in the year, we had Scheif on the half wall and when Nik’s there, he kind of gets that half wall. Just giving it a bit of another look, more of an umbrella look to create a little bit more shot-wise,” said Arniel.

“That had more to do with it. (Perfetti) is just going to work low, be that guy around the back of the net now with that second group, Nik will be able to hold that side, do what he does coming off that strong side.”

The Jets have points in four straight (3-0-1) and the Rangers are trying to go a perfect five-for-five on their western conference road trip.