FORWARD LINE CHANGES
With Copp moving up, that means Paul Stastny moves to the left side of Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nikolaj Ehlers and Jansen Harkins slots in beside Adam Lowry and Kristian Vesalainen on the third line. Harkins might get the occasional chance to kill penalties tonight in the absence of Blake Wheeler. There has been a noticeable improvement in Harkins game as of late and he gets a huge opportunity playing third line minutes.
PIONK BACK
Neal Pionk has served his two-game suspension for kneeing Rasmus Sandin and concussion like symptoms following Jason Spezza going after him in the same game against Toronto. Pionk returns means the defence pairings go back to Morrissey-Schmidt, Dillon-Pionk and Stanley-DeMelo. Paul Maurice will run 11 forwards and seven defencemen tonight, so Nathan Beaulieu stays in the lineup as well.
RESTED AGAIN
The Jets played five games in eight days before travelling home last Saturday, taking Sunday off, and returning to practice on Monday. They had a lot of zip and energy during the morning skate today which should translate to a good start in tonight's game against Buffalo.
"It's important that you get random breaks like this obviously," said Adam Lowry.
"Sometimes it would be nice to have the day in between instead of the back-to-backs. I think we are looking forward to seeing our group rested and ready-to-go."
SABRES GETTING THERE
The Sabres return to Canada for the first time since March 3, 2020, when they played here in Winnipeg against the Jets. Buffalo is 1-7-2 in their last ten games, but Jets head coach Paul Maurice believes he has seen real defensive improvements in their last two games against the high scoring Rangers and Capitals.
