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The Winnipeg Jets are looking to get back into the win column after a rare regulation loss on Saturday (3-2) to the Central Division-leading Dallas Stars. Standing in their way is a dangerous — albeit depleted — New Jersey Devils squad, which will be without its two top centres, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, owing to injuries.
This is the third game of an extended five-game homestand for Winnipeg, which, associate coach Scott Arniel says, has afforded the team plenty of time for practise, along with valuable rest and recovery. The Jets haven’t played since Saturday afternoon and won’t compete again until Friday night after this one.
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“I think this is one of the best schedules we’ve seen for getting (a) good workload in, working into the second half of the year,” Arniel said this morning.
“There are going to be times where you go long stretches without having a practice. It’s so important for these guys to have their touches, to get their conditioning, to get their feel. Whether it’s special teams to get their work, partners, defence partners working together out there. So, we’re taking advantage of all of this stuff because we know it’s going to get heavy again. It is nice to have these breaks, if you are banged up a little bit, those guys get to heal somewhat.”
The goaltending matchup features Connor Hellebuyck vs. Akira Schmid.
Here’s some other key info to get you set for puck drop:
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MIKE SAYS: Beware the wounded animal? There’s no question Winnipeg would appear to have an advantage over New Jersey with Hughes (20 points in 10 games this season) and Hischier (80 points last year) sidelined. But hockey is the ultimate team sport, and there’s no shortage of examples of teams that rose to the occasion when seemingly down and out. Besides, the Devils still have ample talent to fill the void — and fill the net.
They are one of the league’s most exciting young clubs, with speed and skill to burn.
The Jets would be wise to be on their most angelic behaviour tonight — “zero penalties across the board,” Arniel joked this morning — given that they are facing the NHL’s most potent power play, which comes into the game at 38.5 per cent. Winnipeg’s 26th-ranked penalty kill could be in for a long night if there’s a parade to the sin bin.
There’s no question the Jets are flying high at five on five, which has actually been a detriment to the Devils, so the number of infractions in this one will likely go a long way to dictating the final result.
KEN SAYS: Jets forward Cole Perfetti is riding a six-game point streak for the Jets and has nine points during his past nine outings, settling in nicely after moving from centre to the wing. Nikolaj Ehlers is off to a slow offensive start but chipped in an assist on Perfetti’s fourth goal of the season and played one of his best games of the season against the Stars, so he’ll be looking to build on that.
Jets left-winger Kyle Connor was one of the NHL’s three stars of the week, is up to 11 goals on the season and is trying to chase down Auston Matthews in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILESKyle Connor was one of the NHL’s three stars of the week, with 11 goals on the board thus far this season.
After signing a lucrative, long-term extension in the summer, Devils winger Jesper Bratt has picked up where he left off last season, chipping in seven goals and 19 points in 13 games.
Tyler Toffoli leads the Devils in goals with eight after coming over in a trade with the Calgary Flames. When healthy, the Devils are considered to be a legitimate threat to come out of the Eastern Conference, so this will be another great test for the Jets.
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