Winnipeg Jets Look To Tame the Panthers

By JacobStoller Jan 13, 2015, 11:00am EST

After a frustrating loss at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, the Winnipeg Jets look to rebound against the Florida Panthers. Meanwhile as the Panthers are in the midst of Western Canada road trip and they look to collect their fourth win in a row. Both teams are in the thick of the race for a wild card spot in their respective conferences.

Puck drop is set for 7 PM CT. You can catch all of the action on TSN3 or you can listen to the game on TSN1290 radio.

Keys to the Game

Winnipeg Jets

Play 60 minute hockey. In the Jets last two games, they have struggled to put forth a consistent effort for a full 60 minutes. Last game, against the Anaheim Ducks, the Jets were up 4-2, before collapsing and surrendering a 5-4 shootout loss to the Ducks. The game before that, the Jets got off to a thrilling start against the Kings. The Jets scored three early answered goals, but after that, they allowed a quick two let the Kings back into the game. Weather the Jets are winning, losing or tied, they must continue to work hard for the entire game.

Every Game Matters. The Jets are now in the second half of the NHL season and the race for a Wild Card Spot continues to intensify. Later on this week they will play back-to-back road contests against divisional foes in the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks. This isn't a divisional game, but grabbing two points tonight against the Panthers could really help the Jets in the standings regardless of the outcome in their divisional games.

Florida Panthers

Keep Rolling: As the Florida Panthers gear up to face the Jets, they look to extend their win streak to four games. This marks the sixth and final game of the Panthers road trip. A win tonight would give the Panthers a 5-1 record on the trip. This recent surge of energy on the road trip has really helped the Panthers playoff chances. The Panthers currently sit one point out of an Eastern Conference wild card spot with 49 points.

By The Numbers

- 3rd in Wild Card race with 49 points

- 5th least amount of goals per game ( 2.38)

- 11th least amount of goals allowed (2.50)

- 2nd worst power play in the NHL ( 13.3%)

- 13th best penalty kill ( 81.6%)

- 7th most shots per game ( 31.4)

- 8th most shots allowed per game ( 30.3)

- 16th ranked Faceoff percentage ( 49.3)

Player to Boo Mercilessly

Aaron Ekblad ranks third in rookie scoring and first among rookie defenseman scoring with 24 points. The kid has made waves throughout the league and surely will be in Norris Trophy conversations for years to come.

Prediction

Jets 4

Panthers 1