GAMEDAY: Rangers at Jets

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets went 2-2-0 during their four-game road trip after suffering a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Jets look to bounce back as they host the New York Rangers in the first game of their two game homestand on Tuesday.

Newly acquired Luke Schenn will make his Jets debut tonight alongside Haydn Fleury on the third defence pairing.

“It’s a lot about, like we mentioned after the deadline was over, we know what our numbers are now, and I want to make sure everybody’s getting their reps, and everybody is a part of this,” said head coach Scott Arniel.

“It’s going to take everybody if we’re going to go deep in the playoffs, it’s going to take a full roster. Getting Haydn in there is something I’ve wanted to do, he’s a good skater, good mobility. Against the Rangers tonight, just felt that playing with Luke and his ability to skate and make plays.”

Thanks to an injury and lineup decisions this will be Fleury’s fourth game since January 28, the 28-year-old likes the idea of the pairing with Schenn.

“He's a big, physical guy, and he can end a lot of things in the corner. So, I think with my skating through the neutral zone and just being able to support him all over the ice, I think that just blends together well,” said Fleury.

“I think the way he can end plays down low and then make a breakout pass allows me to use my feet and get up in the rush and have good gaps and stuff like that.”

Some more good news for the Jets as Vladislav Namestnikov will be in the lineup tonight after being taken out of the game on Sunday in Raleigh by the concussion spotter. Namestnikov was hit by Carolina’s Jordan Staal and did not return in the 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

“Yeah, of course. You never want to miss games, and important games like this,” said Namestnikov.

“So happy it wasn't anything serious.”

Because of the fact that Namestnikov will be available tonight, the forward group will remain the same from Sunday’s finale of the four-game road trip. Rasmus Kupari is available to play but Arniel wants to get a longer look at what Morgan Barron can do at centre on the fourth line.

“Obviously we’re doing a little experimenting here with Bear going in the middle on that fourth line and seeing how that goes, I want that to run for a little bit,” said Arniel.

“Just getting a feel for some different looks that we haven’t been able to do earlier on.”

Last season, the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best regular season record. After losses to the Senators and Blue Jackets this past weekend, the Rangers are on the outside looking in for the final wild card spot in the east. They have made a lot of changes to the lineup recently including adding JT Miller from the Vancouver Canucks.

“I know JT really well, obviously know him from Vancouver, I had him in New York. He’s going to drive that line, he’s got some energy that’s out there,” said Arniel.

“They have, you can see, two real top six offensive groups that are coming at you, and then I think they’ve got two real heavy lines that play a hard game. Yeah, different look, but still an elite team with some top players.”

After a four-game road trip, the Jets return home where they have gone 23-5-4 which is good for third in the league. Winnipeg has a six-game point streak at home (5-0-1) and have lost just two regulation games at Canada Life Centre in the past 20 games (14-2-4). The Jets haven’t allowed four goals at home since Jan. 4 (13 home games).