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Game #38 GDT: Columbus Blue Jackets at Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets are tasked with preventing history, and going beyond .500 hockey, as they host a Columbus Blue Jackets squad able to tie the third-longest winning streak in the record books.

The Columbus Blue Jackets (24-5-4) have an opportunity at fourteen straight wins, and would take the Metropolitan Division lead in the process. With such a run, it's no wonder that Sergei Bobrovsky John Tortorella is a Jack Adams contender. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets (17-17-3) are seeking a somewhat more modest third straight victory, after downing the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks.

Nikolaj Ehlers has a nice little stretch going on, with six points in his last four games, including four goals. He together with Blake Wheeler, who is riding a five game point streak, constitute Winnipeg's hot hands at the moment. And they should have their hands full with Columbus' starter, seeing how Bobrovsky is currently rocking a 22-5-2 record and .934 Sv%.

Michael Hutchinson gets the call for Winnipeg between the pipes, in what is apparently not the worst decision ever.

Columbus forwards Alexander Wennberg and William Karlsson aren't household names, but that's more a product of youth and playing in Columbus. Together with Brandon Dubinsky, the trio comprise solid middle depth and have more than adequately filled the Ryan Johansen void. 23-year-old Lukas Sedlak has also been a pleasant surprise, centring one of the more interesting fourth lines in hockey between Scott Hartnell and Sam Gagner.

In Zach Werenski, hockey fans are seeing a star in the making. In his first full season as a pro, the eighth overall pick in 2015 is not only shouldering 21:30 ATOI, but excelling at the same time. The 19-year-old has posted 22 points in 33 games played, and will rightfully be in the Calder Trophy conversation.

When, Where & How

Thursday, Jan. 29, 7:00 p.m. CT, MTS Centre
TV: TSN3, FS-O
Radio: TSN 1290, 97.1 FM

Winnipeg Jets Projected Lineup

Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Nikolaj Ehlers Mark Scheifele Patrik Laine
Mathieu Perreault Bryan Little Blake Wheeler
Shawn Matthias Adam Lowry Joel Armia
Marko Dano Nic Petan Drew Stafford
Left Defence
Right Defence
Josh Morrissey Dustin Byfuglien
Toby Enstrom Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot Paul Postma
Goaltenders
Michael Hutchinson
Connor Hellebuyck

Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Brandon Saad Alexander Wennberg Nick Foligno
Boone Jener Brandon Dubinsky Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert William Karlsson Josh Anderson
Scott Hartnell Lukas Sedlak Sam Gagner
Left Defence
Right Defence
Zach Werenski Seth Jones
Jack Johnson David Savard
Ryan Murray Markus Nutivaara
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney
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