Before the Winnipeg Jets have a chance at revenge vs. Arizona on Wednesday, they'll first have to close out a 0-1-1 road trip against the San Jose Sharks.
Sitting at 20-22-4 and still without star rookie Patrik Laine, it won’t be long until the conversation becomes focused not on playoffs but trade deadline sell-offs and the upcoming draft. As for the San Jose Sharks, their 25-16-2 record puts them third in the Pacific Division, though with games in hand vs. the two teams ahead of them in Anaheim and Edmonton.
#NHLJets coach Paul Maurice on how much the team misses having Patrik Laine in the lineup. pic.twitter.com/C7yW4RdOwu
— Ted Wyman (@Ted_Wyman) January 16, 2017
For a veteran team with championship hopes, San Jose has done a fine job of integrating young players into the lineup this season. Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier now feature prominently in the top-nine, while Chris Tierney continues to solidify himself as the team's go-to third-line centre. It’s the kind of depth which has been able to withstand losing Tomas Hertl to injury and Matt Nieto on the waiver wire.
Oh, and Sharks defenceman Brent Burns has nine points in his last five games and is on pace for 83 points on the season. The Jets may want to keep an eye on him.
When, Where & How
Left Wing | Centre | Right Wing |
Nikolaj Ehlers | Mark Scheifele | Blake Wheeler |
Mathieu Perreault | Bryan Little | Joel Armia |
Shawn Matthias | Adam Lowry | Drew Stafford |
Andrew Copp | Nic Petan | Chris Thorburn |
Left Defence |
Right Defence |
Josh Morrissey | Dustin Byfuglien |
Toby Enstrom | Jacob Trouba |
Mark Stuart | Paul Postma |
Goaltenders |
Michael Hutchinson |
Connor Hellebuyck |
Left Wing | Centre | Right Wing |
Patrick Marleau | Joe Thornton | Joe Pavelski |
Mikkel Boedker | Logan Couture | Kevin Labanc |
Timo Meier | Chris Tierney | Joel Ward |
Melker Karlsson | Micheal Haley | Tommy Wingels |
Left Defence |
Right Defence |
Paul Martin | Brent Burns |
Marc-Edouard Vlasic | Justin Braun |
Brenden Dillon | David Schlemko |
Goaltenders |
Martin Jones |
Aaron Dell |