Game #21 Preview and GDT: Winnipeg Jets at Carolina Hurricanes

Over the course on an 82-game season, some matches are best forgotten almost immediately after the final buzzer. Last night’s clunker of a 4-1 loss to the Bruins was one of them.

Whether looking at the 38-12 (12!!!) shots on goal, 70% – 30% faceoff split or 69.12% – 30.88% 5v5 Corsi For%, it was a good game for Boston and a miserable one for the Jets. On most nights, Michael Hutchinson's four goals against would be questionable, but a grand total of 12 shots by Winnipeg is far from "most nights". Between the pipes is pretty well the last place fingers should be pointing after yesterday.

In addition to the team as a whole, tonight will be a chance for Connor Hellebuyck to get back on track as well. After save percentages of .920 or higher in four straight games, the 23-year-old allowed four goals on 21 shots against Philadelphia. Hellebuyck's current 2016-17 Sv% of .910 feels a fair summary of his year so far, a fine average of his downs and ups. If Winnipeg is to be a playoff contender, he'll need to bounceback and play to his potential for much of the season.

After last night's loss, Winnipeg's five game road trip is off to an 0-2-0 start. The remaining tilts don't get any easier, with Minnesota and Nashville on the docket. It sure would be nice for the Jets to head into those divisional tilts with momentum, rather than riding a three game losing streak.

Speaking of streaks, the Quebec Nordiques Carolina Hurricanes have been on a nice run of late, having defeated Washington, San Jose and Montreal their last three outings. With a Goals For per game of 2.56, 17th in the league, Carolina isn't lighting the world on fire offensively. But as has been his hallmark since taking the helm, head coach Bill Peters' Hurricanes are playing a strong possession game. Hopefully Winnipeg can avoid gifting them the puck as happened yesterday:

Up front, the future is now for Carolina. 23-year-old Victor Rask and 24-year-old Jeff Skinner (who already has 433 NHL games under his belt) lead the club with 14 points each, while 19-year-old rookie Sebastian Aho has 10 points in 16 tilts. Together with fellow Finns Patrik Laine, Mikko Rantanen, Jesse Puljujarvi, Esa Lindell and others, Aho is part of an impressive class of 2016-17 rookies, one sure to make its mark on both the NHL and international hockey for years to come.

Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen know how to win – and that’s exactly what the Carolina Hurricanes need https://t.co/9MrdOZ8pQc pic.twitter.com/MTHPkJwRkH

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) November 16, 2016

*Otherwise known as Cam Ward doing his best Tuukka Rask impression. Ward has had an excellent November, with save percentages of .926 or above in all but one of seven games played, and his performance is all the more important in light of Eddie Lack's continued struggles.