(SportsNetwork.com) – After halting their longest losing streak of the season
the last time out, the Winnipeg Jets will try to pick up a second straight
victory on Tuesday when they host the red-hot Minnesota Wild at MTS Center.
The Jets had lost six straight (0-4-2) before posting Sunday’s 5-3 home win
over the Colorado Avalanche. Before beating the Avs, Winnipeg had lost its
previous two games in overtime and the playoff-hopeful club enters tonight on
a three-game point streak.
Dustin Byfuglien and Mathieu Perreault each posted a goal and two assists to
lead the Jets past Colorado. Bryan Little had a goal and an assist while Jacob
Trouba and Ben Chiarot also scored for the Jets.
Ondrej Pavelec stopped 25 shots in the win.
“The last three (games) we’re comfortable with what we look like, and that’s
where you want to be at this time of year,” said Winnipeg head coach Paul
Maurice. “We’re not winning every game down the stretch, but you want to look
when you leave the ice knowing you did what you’re supposed to do.”
Minnesota, meanwhile, has won six straight and the club’s 8-1-1 mark over the
last 10 games has rekindled the club’s playoff hopes. Tonight’s tilt with the
Jets is another key battle for the Wild, as they attempt to make the
postseason for a third straight season.
Winnipeg currently is situated in the first of two wild card spots in the
Western Conference, where it holds a three-point lead over Vancouver. The Jets
also are five points behind Chicago for the Central Division’s third and final
automatic playoff bid.
Minnesota sits just six points behind the Jets in both the division and
conference standings and the Wild are three points in back of the Canucks for
the final postseason berth in the West.
The Wild gained some ground on Vancouver last night, posting a 5-3 home
decision over the Canucks. Ryan Suter tallied a goal and an assist as
Minnesota secured its first six-game winning streak since taking seven in a
row from March 14-27, 2013.
Jason Pominville, Kyle Brodziak, Nino Niederreiter and Jordan Schroeder all
scored. Mikko Koivu supplied three assists in the triumph.
“We were winning battles and did the little things right,” said Koivu. “We
have to continue to keep building.”
Devan Dubnyk, the NHL’s First Star for the week ending Feb. 8, made 22 saves
to improve his record to 8-1-0 since joining the Wild in a trade last month.
Dubnyk, who has recorded four shutouts after coming over from Arizona for a
third-round draft pick, has started the last 10 games for Minnesota, but Darcy
Kuemper could give him a rest tonight with the Wild playing on consecutive
days. However, when asked if Dubnyk could play on back-to-back nights, head
coach Mike Yeo didn’t rule out that possibility.
Wild forwards Ryan Carter and Jason Zucker also left Monday’s game due to
undisclosed injuries and both players could be sidelined for a while.
“We should not expect them back in the lineup in the near future,” Yeo said
after Monday’s game.
Zucker is second on the Wild with 18 goals, while Carter has 13 points (3G,
10A).
The Wild have won three of four and six of the last eight meetings against
Winnipeg overall and Minnesota has won two straight at MTS Centre.
