The Winnipeg Jets are back in action Wednesday, facing the Detroit Red Wings. The Jets, who are coming off back to back losses, and falling further and further out of the playoff race, will look to get some confidence rolling against Detroit.

Detroit has lost 6 of their last 7, and should be a game that Winnipeg is looking forward to playing. There are no nights off in the NHL, but Detroit has been taken advantage of as of late, being outscored 35-18 in those 8 games.

The Jets will look to bounce back after dropping the last two to the Kings and Maple Leafs. Two games that could have really put the Jets into playoff contention. It is looking more and more unlikely that Winnipeg finds themselves fighting for Lord Stanley at the end of the regular season, but anything is possible, for now.

Anticipated lines look pretty good for tonight:

Stastny-Scheifele-Ehlers
Connor-Dubois-Wheeler
Sanford-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Toninato-Svechnikov

Morrissey-DeMelo
Heinola-Pionk
Dillon-Schmidt
Stanley

While the lines are not confirmed, Jansen Harkins will be out with an injury, seeing Morgan Barron slot in. The defense lines were a bit scrambled at practice, but with Schmidt returning, it will either be Stanley or Heinola to sit out. Hellebuyck to start.

The key to tonight is special teams. The Jets have to stay out of the box, first of all. When they inevitably do end up in the box, they have to do better on the PK. As for the PP, it has been fine, but could definitely be a lot better, given the talent this team has at the top of the lineup. I would like to see a PP1 unit of Connor, Dubois, Ehlers, Wheeler and Heinola, at least for a few opportunities before slotting Morrissey back in.

As Kyle Connor falls behind on a few games played, I think he will be able to pick up the production where he left off. I am looking for the second line to have a big night.

There has been a ton of head-coach conversation in the comments. I would like to say that there are a ton of available bodies, and we can talk about who we want, but in the end, it won't matter until they are already behind the bench and we can see how they do. The prime example of this is Martin St. Louis. Nobody thought he would be a good coach, but he has made a huge impact on Montreal. So sure, Trotz, Quinneville, Babcock, whoever you think would be best, may be the best on paper, it is incredibly tough to judge until they are coaching the team.

I am not saying don't speculate and explain why, but it is just so hard to try and picture how a coach will pan out with a new team, in all cases.

I do think the most ideal coach will be Trotz. He can add an amazing defensive game to a mediocre team, and the Jets have more-than-mediocre players. The Jets do have 6 (actually, a lot more than 6) NHL Defenseman. They have a good corps of guys they can throw out on any given night. It just isnt working for this group, not together at least.

Let me know your thoughts ahead of tonight, as well as what you hope for out of a new head coach. Is there even an argument to keep Lowry? I want to hear your thoughts.

Take care,

Jacob

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