The Winnipeg Jets (3-3-1) conclude a three-game road trip tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-1-0) with a 6:30pm ct face off from the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Jets head coach Claude Noel confirmed to TSN 1290 that defenceman
Dustin Byfuglien will not play tonight due to a lower-body injury. It's the second straight game Winnipeg will play without Byfuglien.
Ondrej Pavelec is expected to start in goal after not taking part in an optional pregame skate and leaving the rink immediately after a team meeting.
Only seven skaters (Postma, Wellwood, Peluso, Wright, Clitsome, Redmond, Scheifele) and goaltender
Al Montoya skated this morning. Peluso was the only player "skated" at the end by the assistant coaches so expect him not to play. The others are an option for Noel who did indicate this morning he may adjust last night's roster.
Following last night's game against Florida, Winnipeg enters tonight with the worst penalty kill in the NHL at 63.6 per cent.
The Lightning are 4-0 on home ice this season and on a four-game winning streak.
Tampa has the third-ranked power play in the NHL on home ice at 38.1 per cent.
Anders Lindback, who is on a personal three-game winning streak, will start his fourth straight game in goal.
Steven Stamkos has scored goals in three straight games and has 11 points (four goals and seven assists) in six games this season.
Vincent Lecavalier has scored in back-to-back games and is on a four-game point streak (two goals and four assists).
Martin St. Louis has seven assists in his last three games.
Victor Hedman has two goals and two assists in his last three games.
