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It’s always special to see an Original Six team. And the Winnipeg Jets are going to get a steady diet of hockey history coming up here, with the next four games against the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks. Add ‘em all up and those franchises have an incredible 47 Stanley Cup banners hanging from their rafters.
“With the history of all of these franchises and you’re playing the best one here tonight,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said this morning of facing the Habs, who have 24 championships on the resume. “I spent three years in Montreal with the juniors. I always loved played the Montreal Canadiens. It’s a special organization and great up-and-coming team with a lot of skill. It’s going to be a really entertaining game. They can score. Always respected the Original Six.”
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The current version of the Canadiens may be a far cry from the glory years of the franchise, but coach Marty St. Louis has them playing well considering a rash of injuries and an injection of youth and inexperience on the rebuilding roster.
The Jets are flying high these days, coming off impressive back-to-back victories over legitimate Western Conference contenders in Los Angeles (5-2) to close out a four-game road trip last week and against Colorado (6-2) to begin a four-game homestand on Saturday. Overall Winnipeg has won seven of its last eight games and enters play tonight tied with Dallas for the best winning percentage in the Central Division.
Connor Hellebuyck vs Jake Allen is the battle between the pipes in this nationally televised battle.
Here’s some additional information to get you set for puck drop:
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: After scoring just once in San Jose in the first game without injured sniper Kyle Connor, there likely was some worry about Winnipeg’s offence and how they might weather his expected two-month absence. So how have they responded since? Try 11 goals against the mighty Kings and Avalanche. Not too shabby.
Gabe Vilardi is on fire, with three goals and three assists in the past two games. For those of you keeping track at home, that’s 50 per cent of Pierre-Luc Dubois point production over his 27 games played.
“I think a lot of it is timing, and just playing. That also comes with conditioning,” Vilardi, who missed 18 games with a knee injury, said this morning. “At first I was playing with my hands and not really with my legs. I think as I’ve come back I’ve kind of put them together and that’s made things a little easier with the puck.”
No kidding.
After I mentioned in this space on Saturday that the Jets could sure use some production from the struggling Alex Iafallo, he responded with a goal and an assist that evening to snap a 13-game pointless drought. Who knew I had such power?!
It’s always a terrific atmosphere when Montreal comes to town, and I expect tonight will be no exception. Between the Jets playing so well, fans in a festive mood and no shortage of rival jerseys and dueling chants, it should be a fun one at the downtown rink.
Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has 26 points in 29 games this season – which leaves him eight in the NHL among blue-liners. (Paul Vernon / The Associated Press files)
KEN SAYS: The Jets don’t want to be swept in any season series and you can be sure they’ll be looking to even the ledger in the second and final meeting between the two clubs.
With another two assists on Saturday, Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey continues to shine, as he’s up to 26 points in 29 games this season – which leaves him eight in the NHL among blue-liners.
Allen was excellent in goal during the game in Montreal against the Jets, making 42 saves in the 4-3 shootout victory on Oct. 28. Allen is 0-6-1 since recording that victory and his career mark against the Jets is 7-8-3 with a 3.21 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.
On the flip side, Hellebuck is riding a hot streak and has now gone 10 consecutive starts with allowing two goals or fewer – allowing only 15 pucks past him during that stretch. He’s 11-6-1 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 19 career games against the Canadiens.
One of the other storylines to monitor will be the third NHL battle between the Barron brothers, with Morgan playing on the fourth line for the Jets and Justin playing on the second D pairing with the Canadiens.
The bonus is that their parents will once again be in attendance and for the record, the goal-scoring race going into the contest is even at five a piece. We shall see if one of the players gets a leg up on Monday evening.
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