Music: {allcanada} JETS MAKE NHL ON TSN DEBUT AGAINST VISITING HURRICANES

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

{allcanada} JETS MAKE NHL ON TSN DEBUT AGAINST VISITING HURRICANES

The Winnipeg Jets make their national debut on the NHL on TSN tonight on Wednesday Night Hockey when they continue their pre-season against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.

You can watch the game on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 8pm et/5pm pt, and you can join our live game blog to chat with other fans throughout the game.

The contest marks the Jets' second pre-season home appearance. The club played three straight road games after they beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-1 at the MTS Centre last Tuesday. The Jets are 2-3 overall.

As the pre-season schedule winds down, first round pick Mark Scheifele has another chance to make a case to stick with the big team.

Scheifele, who has three goals and three assists in the pre-season, leads a number of prospects trying to make the jump as the organization prepares to open their first season in Winnipeg. Defenceman Paul Postma and forward Patrice Cormier are also in the running to nail down positions for opening night on Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.

For the Hurricanes, Zac Dalpe has all but nailed down a roster spot but many other young players still have some work to do. Forward Drayson Bowman and Zac Boychuk are two such players that are running out of time to make an impression on head coach Paul Maurice.

"We'll put players in (the lineup) that we feel either have something to prove or something to gain, players who may be right on the cusp of making our hockey team," Maurice told the Charlotte Observer. "This is a big game for them."

Eric Staal, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Chad LaRose and Tuomo Ruutu did not make the trip to Winnipeg for the Hurricanes. Carolina is playing just its fourth pre-season game, and comes in with a 1-2 record.

The Jets and Hurricanes met in Charlotte on Sunday, with the Hurricanes coming away with a 4-0 victory. Cam Ward made 36 saves, and Riley Nash has a goal and an assist for Carolina.