The Winnipeg Jets (13-11-2) host the New York Rangers (13-10-2) where tonight's winner will have sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Both teams have 28 points, however, the Rangers have played one less game than the Jets.
Patrice Cormier is expected to make his regular season debut tonight after being recalled from the AHL's St. John's IceCaps on Wednesday. Cormier replaces the injured
Jim Slater.
Based on extra skating at the end of Thursday's morning pre-game skate,
Alexander Burmistrov is expected to be a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
Eddie Pasquale, also up from the IceCaps, will be the backup to starting goaltender
Ondrej Pavelec. Head coach Claude Noel told TSN 1290 that
Al Montoya has a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Nik Antropov is on a three-game point streak (one goal and four assists).
Evander Kane has scored in back-to-back games.
Kane led the Jets with two goals and an assist February 26th at Madison Square Gardens for a 4-3 win over the Rangers in their lone meeting so far this season. The two teams play again April 1 in New York.
The Rangers are coming off a 3-1 loss in Buffalo Tuesday. They have just two losses in their last six games.
Derek Stepan has scored in back-to-back games.
Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start in goal. He has played in seven of their last eight games.
Lifetime against Atlanta/Winnipeg,
Brad Richards has 56 points (18 goals and 38 assists) in 51 games, while
Marian Gaborik has 22 points (10 goals and 12 assists) in 18 games.
Mark Staal,
Michael Sauer and
Arron Asham will not play tonight due to injury.
Stu Bickel and
Matt Gilroy are expected to be the healthy scratches.
