The Jets are expected to ice the same line-up as Sunday, though Kristian Vesalainen is available as an option after being recalled from the taxi squad shortly after the morning skate:
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Copp-Stastny-Ehlers
Perreault-Lowry-Appleton
Harkins-Gustafsson-Lewis
Morrissey-DeMelo
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-Beaulieu
The only other difference would be in goal, where Connor Hellebuyck - who is 7-1-1 in his last nine meetings with the Oilers - is expected to get his fifth start of the young season.
Winnipeg's defensive pairs have been constantly changing this season. In addition to the six expected to play tonight, Sami Niku, Ville Heinola, and Tucker Poolman have also seen action.
The one pair that has remained constant, though, is Forbort and Pionk.
"(It's) going pretty well. We've made some mistakes, but we've made a lot of good plays too," said Pionk. "I think the chemistry over the summer and fall training has helped. Forbs is playing really well and he's fitting in well with the group."
The chemistry between the two Minnesota products began when they were young, but was further cemented this past off-season.
"I played hockey with and against his younger brother growing up. I knew the family a little bit, and of course knew who he was," Pionk said. "Once I turned pro, we got to know each other a little bit, training and skating together. This past summer and fall, we were training and skating together almost every day."
Pionk (13:13) and Forbort (14:01) were the Jets defencemen that saw the most of Connor McDavid at even strength on Sunday. Meanwhile, Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo were tasked with the Leon Draisaitl match-up.
Of course, team defence is more than just the defensive pair on the ice. Maurice said it's nearly impossible to completely prevent players like McDavid and Draisaitl - who combined for five points on Sunday, three of which came in the third period - from creating opportunities.
"Connor McDavid is getting loose. He's going to get one-on-one with somebody and there is going to be a speed issue, and he's going to get that chance," said Maurice. "Leon Draisaitl, I could see it going back to when we were together at the World Cup, is such a powerful man. If he gets into a one-on-one win certain situations, he's going to beat him and he's going to get that chance."
The goal then, is to limit their options.
"You can't shut them down individually for the entire game, they're going to get their chances," he said. "You want to make sure you can maybe slow down the group, instead of necessarily the individual."
Both McDavid and Draisaitl come into Tuesday's game riding three-game point streaks. Winnipeg has five players with point streaks sitting on four games - Copp, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Adam Lowry.
"I want to continue to prove how good of a player I can be," said Copp. "The point streak is kind of besides the point. It's having that confidence that we're going to come in, play well, and we're going to produce."
He then ended that thought with:
"Let's make it five tonight."
That, plus two points in the standings would be the ideal evening for the Jets. The work toward achieving both beings with puck drop at 7 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Game Notes
Winnipeg's eight-game home winning streak dating back to last season ended on Sunday night. The Jets are in the midst of a seven-game home stand.
The Jets and Oilers meet for the second of nine times this season on Tuesday night.
Adam Lowry, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheitele, Andrew Coop, and Blake Wheeler are all on four-game point streaks.
READ THE GAME NOTES
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