“Yeah, we’re getting closer to sort of getting to the end of camp. All these guys getting up, getting games. The Scheifele group is the last group, last night was the Namestnikov line," said Scott Arniel.
"They’re the last guys to kind of play their first exhibition games. It’s an opportunity with back to back, we had to have two teams. These guys had a good week of practice, now put it all together in a game tonight.”
There will be an air of excitement with the debut of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi, one of the top lines in the NHL last season.
"It’s amazing how quickly your top guys kind of get it. It doesn’t take them long to recognize it get back in the swing," said Arniel.
"That line, you just watch them in practice and they just dominate whoever they go against. It’s just another opportunity for them to get the rest off and get themselves ready.”
The defence will feature the Jets top four from a year ago, Josh Morrissey, Dylan DeMelo, Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk.
"Well it is real situations. In practice it is five to 10 second shifts and maybe a coach will blow down a play, the guys on a breakaway and he blows it down, of course the forwards don’t like that, but playing the game is more real and more realistic," said Neal Pionk, who is making his preseason debut.
"The guys have something to lose, too, it you make a mistake in practice, sometimes you can take some risks that you might not in the games."
Eric Comrie will play the whole game tonight, Arniel said that Connor Hellebuyck will start the Jets last two preseason contests.
