Time: 5:45 PM CST
Channel: CBC/Sportsnet
Radio: TSN1290
The Winnipeg Jets just won game two of the Qualifying Round on the strength of Nikolaj Ehlers first playoff goal and they are looking to do it all again tonight. Yes, even in the Bubble Hockey Playoffs the NHL has decided that back to back games make sense. I don’t get it either.
The Jets are going to want more of the same from the game tonight. They are probably without Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine again tonight, but it is not like they are playing a team with super centre depth and cannot be matched when a team is down their best centre. It does take a concerted effort on the part of the Jets though to play without Scheifele. There is no word on when he could possibly be back.
The Jets are going to want to continue doing what they have been doing including drawing penalties. Even if they do not score on the power play they are forcing the Flames goalie to make saves and move around. This worked yesterday as while the Jets failed to score on a two minute five on three, but Adam Lowry scored right after. Making good use of that time is vital.
I am usually a proponent of not starting a goalie on both halves of a back to back, but Connor Hellebuyck has been off for months and hopefully is not feeling fatigue yet. I think he can easily handle back to back games in this scenario considering that we are talking about the playoffs here. The regular season is a different beast when it comes to goalies and rest days especially.
Prediction
Patrik Laine plays and scores a hat trick. Yes, I said it.
