Jets hope to keep homestand success going as they host Red Wings

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This article was published 29/12/2015 (3901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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The Winnipeg Jets will try to finish off a friendly December on home ice tonight when they meet the Detroit Red Wings at the MTS Centre (7 p.m., TSN3, TSN1290).

The Jets have won five of their six home games so far this month, one of the few positive vibes they have to go on with a 16-17-2 record, to date, placing them last in the seven-team Central Division.

The Wings, 18-11-7, come to town off their 3-1 loss in Minnesota on Monday night. It’s the third straight home opponent for the Jets that has played the night previous.

Winnipeg’s last outing was Sunday’s 1-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“The way we played against Pitt was kind of a boring game but there were some Grade A chances on both sides and both goalies played real well,” Jets winger Drew Stafford said this morning. “But for the most part, it’s a collective effort staying out of the box and making sure when we are on special teams, getting the job done.”

Tonight’s game marks a rare occasion — coming into today’s action, the Jets are not the most shorthanded team in the NHL. That mantle has fallen for the moment to the Columbus Blue Jackets, at 135 times short.

Winnipeg, now only third-worst in this department, is at 130, passed also by the Vancouver Canucks at 131.

The Jets were shorthanded only twice against Pittsburgh, and killed both penalties.

Jets coach Paul Maurice said today that he had no new information on sidelined centre Mark Scheifele, who suffered a concussion on Saturday.

“No setbacks. All is positive. Nothing’s changed. It’s a good run,” the coach said. “We’ll still get to the seven-day mark which is what the protocol calls for and then we’ll make an assessment.”

The coach also said today that goalie Ondrej Pavelec, injured Nov. 21 against Arizona, has not yet been on the ice but has suffered no setbacks in his rehab of a knee injury.

“Our plan is to bring him on the road trip (that starts Thursday) with us,” Maurice said. “I’m not sure that puts him on the ice yet but that allows us to really monitor the progress that he’s made and to keep working.”

Tonight, the Jets will start Connor Hellebuyck in goal for the seventh time in eight games. Hellebuyck had 30 saves in shutting out Pittsburgh on Sunday.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

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