Game #39 GDT: New York Islanders at Winnipeg Jets

Tonight, the Winnipeg Jets (17-18-3) will close out a forgettable 2016 portion of the 2016-17 season by hosting ex-captain Andrew Ladd's New York Islanders (14-15-6).

Winnipeg is coming off a 5-3 loss to Columbus, which NHL.com Correspondent Scott Billeck pointed out was the Jets seventh failed opportunity to win a third straight game this season. On top of that, Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice received some flack for overthinking his goaltending nod of Michael Hutchinson over Connor Hellebuyck. There will be no “below average” performance from Hutchinson tonight however, as Hellebuyck is set to end 2016 between the pipes. With Marko Dano out for approximately eight weeks with a lower-body injury, Andrew Copp finds himself recalled and playing left wing on the fourth line beside Nic Petan and Drew Stafford.

The New York Islanders are, in a word, dreadful. For a team which had no worse than playoff aspirations, their current place of 27th in the league and last in the Metropolitan Division is both surprising and disappointing. The Islanders own the 26th ranked power play, 22nd penalty kill, and are an absolute 29th place train-wreck in terms of 5v5 Corsi. At least they no longer have to deal with a three-headed goaltending monster, with Thomas Greiss expected to start tonight and J.F. Berube backing him up.

Waived Jaro Halak will report to Bridgeport.Be interesting now if NYI can trade him.No one willing to take contract without giving one up.

— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) December 31, 2016

Just as the Islanders have struggled, so has Andrew Ladd. New York's big money off-season signing, brought in ostensibly to replace Kyle Okposo, has largely fizzled with his new squad. Ladd may rank third among Islanders forwards in terms of ATOI, but his point production does not match that usage, with just 11 points in 35 games played. The 31-year-old's underlying numbers have been a drag even on a poor possession squad, and Ladd currently finds himself on the third/fourth line with Alan Quine and Jason Chimera. The good news is, the $38.5 million dollar man may finally be showing signs of life:

Andrew Ladd has four points in his last three games, someone has finally adjusted #Isles

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 30, 2016