It looks like the Capitals will have Tom Wilson back in their lineup after arbitrator Shyam Das ruled that Wilson's 20 game suspension be reduced to 14 games. With the Caps in St. Paul tonight, Wilson is eligible to play tonight against the Minnesota Wild.
Washington is spinning its wheels right now sitting a game over .500 (7-6-3). With Wilson's return and the fact there is plenty of talent on the champs' roster, Adam Lowry says the Jets expect to have their hands full tomorrow.
"He's (Wilson) an important player to their lineup so that's a big addition for them," said Lowry. "It's going to be a tough game, they have such a potent power play. They've got a bunch of guys who can put the puck in the net. We've played well at home and we're going to look to continue that tomorrow."
Patrik Laine was quick to point out that the Jets will have to be aware of when Wilson is on the ice.
"You just have to watch out for him," said Laine. "I think everybody has to realize he's made some questionable hits so we got to be ready for that. He's a pretty good player, he plays hard and he's been playing with Ovechkin a lot. He's kind of a grinder who gets into those corners and creates a lot of loose pucks, he can still score and I think he will be a good addition to their team."
That all being said, the Jets won a game this season on Sunday without scoring a goal on the power play. A sign that the teams 5-on-5 play is starting to get back to the level that made them so successful a season ago.
"It's better for sure and I'll go back to after the first period in Detroit," said Paul Maurice. "Again I've got the block of Helsinki games that's hard to assess but I like the way we are trending defensively."
The line of Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler have really been dominant at both ends of the rink especially over the last two home games where the Jets have won back to back 5-2 efforts.
"We can't just expect to put seven goals on the board without putting in the work that makes us successful," added Lowry. "I think you look at how the top line has been able to dominate lately. They've been quick on pucks with real smart, real quick plays and I feel everyone has just kind of followed their lead."
Dustin Byfuglien (maintenance day) did not take part of practice but Maurice said he will be in the lineup tomorrow night.
Here are the line rushes from practice:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Little-Perreault
Tanev-Lowry-Laine
Petan-Copp-Roslovic
Morrissey-Trouba
Niku-Chiarot
Morrow-Myers
Hellebuyck
Brossoit
Mathieu Perreault was involved in a collision at the end of practice and left early but Maurice did mention he will play against Washington as well.
ICE CHIPS
Brendan Lemieux's two game suspension for a high hit on the Panthers Vincent Trocheck during the second game of the Global Series in Helsinki is over. Lemieux admitted that waiting for the phone call from the Department of Player Safety was nerve wracking but understood the decision.
"I saw a chance to make a hit, made a hit, didn't catch enough of his shoulder, his upper body and caught a piece of his head there," explained Lemieux. "It's where it's at right now and you've got to be cautious. You have to be careful. You have to make sure you catch the shoulder. When you catch the head that's what's going to happen in today's game. You know it's a good thing, it's to protect guys and so obviously it's unfortunate I had to sit two there but a good learning experience for me."
