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CHICAGO — Greetings from the “Madhouse on Madison,” where the soaring Winnipeg Jets will be looking to pick up where they left off before the holiday break against the slumping Chicago Blackhawks tonight.
In case you need a quick refresher, the Jets are 8-1-1 in December, including a dominant 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins last Friday, which might have been their best all-around performance so far.
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The month began with a 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks on Dec. 2 at Canada Life Centre, which snapped a season-high three-game losing streak. Who could have predicted the only setbacks since then would have come against the sad-sack San Jose Sharks (regulation loss) and the very mediocre Montreal Canadiens (OT loss).
Chicago is going in the opposite direction, with just one victory during the past seven games (1-6-0) and getting outscored 34-16. It’s worth noting the lone win was over the Colorado Avalanche. In other words, anything can happen on any given night in the NHL.
“I always say no matter who you play, you respect the opposition,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said after today’s morning skate. “It doesn’t matter what they’ve done. Any NHL lineup is capable of beating another NHL lineup on any given night. They’ve obviously got some elite talent up front. Never take your foot off the pedal and you always, always have to respect your opponent. Don’t ever look at the standings. Just get ready for an NHL team.”
Winnipeg has one lineup question, as David Gustafsson will be a game-time decision with a lower-body ailment. Dominic Toninato would replace him, if necessary.
It’s Connor Hellebuyck versus Petr Mrazek in the creases.
Here’s some additional information to get you set:
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: It’s always a treat to be here in Chicago, where the Star-Spangled Banner performed by the incredible Jim Cornelison is spine-tingling stuff. Truly the best in the business.
The Jets might need his powerful pipes to wake them up, considering the unusual day they’ve had.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, teams are not allowed to travel together on Boxing Day. That meant Jets players met at the Winnipeg airport bright and early this morning to make the 7 a.m. charter to the Windy City.
They then raced from the airport to the United Center for their 11:30 a.m. morning skate — the first time they’ve hit the ice together since last Friday — and then headed to a nearby hotel to grab a pre-game nap.
Then it will be back to the rink for the later-than-usual 8 p.m. puck drop, which will be followed by another mad dash to the airport to charter home in the wee hours of the night.
“It’s a long day,” Bowness told me. “But you could prepare for this. You know coming into the break you’re gonna have three, four days off and then it’s going to be a long day on the 27th. Getting that early wake-up call after Christmas is never easy, but it is what it is. You fight through it.”
The only exception to the above scenario involved a handful of players who made their way to Chicago on Tuesday from their holiday locales. I believe there were about five or six in total, including Vlad Namestnikov, Alex Iafallo, Nate Schmidt and Mason Appleton.
Those guys might have a little more jump than their teammates since they would have been able to sleep in a bit today.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILESThe Winnipeg Jets will have their work cut out for them after a long day of travelling to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. A collective bargaining agreement says teams are not allowed to travel together on Boxing Day, so some players had to meet the sunrise to get to their morning skate.
KEN SAYS: After enjoying the holiday season, it will be interesting to see if the Jets can keep together what has become a remarkable stretch of defensively sound hockey. Putting the streak of 22 consecutive games of allowing three goals or fewer is a tough test after a break of this magnitude, but the structure has become the foundation of the Jets’ success this season.
For the sake of context, that span includes allowing two goals on 11 occasions, three goals seven times, one goal three times and one shutout (against the Florida Panthers).
Nikolaj Ehlers has produced at least one point in nine of the past 10 games, amassing five goals and 15 points as he continues to flourish on the reconstructed top line.
Speaking of numbers, the Jets are coming off a victory over the Bruins, including going two-for-three with the man advantage. Nino Niederreiter supplied both goals for the second unit.
On the flip side, the penalty kill has gone consecutive games with a clean sheet, going four-for-four during that stretch. Improved special teams are key for the Jets during these final 50 games, since the power play is tied for 21st (18.2 per cent) and the PK is currently 26th (75.0 per cent).
Chicago phenom Connor Bedard has come as advertised (13 goals, 30 points in 33 games); he’s riding a four-game point streak and scored in his first game against the Jets on Dec. 2.
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