Jets hope to wipe out Hurricanes

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This article was published 04/03/2018 (2752 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Winnipeg Jets look to kick off their longest road trip of the season on a winning note tonight, facing a red-hot Carolina Hurricanes club fighting to make the playoffs.

Winnipeg (38-17-9) will go with the same lineup that beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Friday night in Winnipeg, including Connor Hellebuyck in goal.

“Real good quickness and speed, a lot of quick strike ability,” coach Paul Maurice said this morning of the challenge Carolina poses. The Hurricanes (29-25-11) have pushed their way into the final Eastern Conference wildcard playoff spot and will be looking to win their third straight game.

Cam Ward gets the start in net for the home team.

Winnipeg is 4-0-1 in their last five road games dating back to mid-January, including back-to-back wins over division rivals St. Louis and Dallas last weekend. This is the first of six straight games away from home

“It’s good for us. We’ve had such an unusual schedule. A month at home is long enough for anybody,” Maurice said of a recent stretch which had the Jets playing 10-straight in February at home. “We need to do this, this time of year, get out on the road. Especially with the new players in our lineup.”

Defenceman Tyler Myers said the Jets will have their hands full tonight trying to contain a speedy Hurricanes squad.

“We know they’re fighting for their playoff lives. This time of year, every team is going to bring their best,” Myers said following the morning skate.

Forward Mathieu Perreault believes the recent stretch of solid play on the road will carry over to this important, lengthy trip.

“It’s kind of nice to get back on the road with the guys,” he said. “It’s going to be a good challenge, we’re excited for it. Hopefully we can get off with a good game, a good start.”

Carolina head coach Bill Peters was quick to dish out praise the other way, saying he’s been impressed with what he’s seen from the Jets. Winnipeg beat Carolina 2-1 on Oct. 14 in their only other meeting this season.

“They’re a real deep team, real mobile on the back end. All four lines really play the same way. They’ve got an identity they play towards, they can be dangerous in multiple situations. Obviously the power play, Laine’s got a whack of power play goals. I got tired of looking at them. There’s lots of them,” Peters said this morning. “Lots of offence throughout the lineup and deep down the middle when they get everybody in there. But they’re deep as it is right now. They got guys getting closer to getting back, they’ll become even deeper.”

Brandon Tanev has fully recovered from his upper-body injury but will be a healthy scratch tonight, Maurice confirmed. Defenceman Toby Enstrom will miss a third straight game with a lower-body injury but could return to action as early as Tuesday in New York.

Goalie Steve Mason is expected to meet the team in the Big Apple and be activated Monday off injured reserve. He made 18 saves in a 5-4 overtime win with the Manitoba Moose on Saturday night in Winnipeg as part of a conditioning assignment as he works his way back from his second concussion of the season.

Michael Hutchinson is expected to be returned to the Moose once Mason is activated.

In terms of other injury updates, defenceman Jacob Trouba and forward Adam Lowry also participated in this morning’s pre-game skate. Maurice said Trouba is expected to begin taking contact in practice as early as Thursday, and could return to game action within a week after that. Lowry is likely on a similar timeline, perhaps a bit behind Trouba, said Maurice.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg