Jets head into weighty weekend back-to-back with hungry Central foes

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This article was published 23/02/2018 (2810 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. LOUIS — The Winnipeg Jets open a crucial back-to-back set against fierce Central Division rivals tonight at the Scottrade Center.

The 35-16-9 Jets, second in the division, play the fifth-place Blues (34-23-4) at 7 p.m. (TSN3, TSN 1290) before travelling to Dallas for a Saturday night game against the third-place Stars (35-22-4).

St. Louis trails Winnipeg by seven points while the Dallas is five points back in the desperate push for an NHL post-season berth. The fourth-place Minnesota Wild are six points back.

“I don’t think we’re looking at the idea of distancing ourselves,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice following Friday’s pre-game skate. “We’re in a fight with all of them and they’re going to be that kind of game. We’ve got an unusual number of teams that haven’t been in this situation, sitting close to that out line.

“Veteran teams that will wind themselves up and we’re going to get their best. You’re going to see this kind of push for the last five weeks. It’s gonna be that intensity, that playoff game every night.”

The game is Winnipeg’s first away from Bell MTS Place since completing a 10-game homestand with a 6-3-1 record.

St. Louis head coach Mike Yeo, whose club has lost four straight games, was asked what concerned him the most about the Jets.

“Well, skill, first and foremost,” said Yeo. “They score goals off the rush, they score goals in the offensive zone, they score goals on the power play. I look at different parts of their game and they’ve tightened up (defensively), for sure. I think they’re getting better goaltending, but without question, their ability to score goals is what’s a concern. The thing is it’s not just one line. They’re deep. They’ve got guys on their third line who can definitely play on other teams’ top lines.”

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Jake Allen gets the start in net for the Blues while Connor Hellebuyck will get his 10th consecutive start for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck skipped the morning skate, leaving Michael Hutchinson and Steve Mason on the ice. Both players have missed time with concussions and Hutchinson is slated to be Winnipeg’s No. 2 tonight.

Veteran Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien also took the morning session off but will play tonight.

Tonight’s game is the final regular-season meeting between the Blues and Jets. St. Louis has won two of three previous games.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14