Time: 2:00 pm CST
Channel: TSN3
Radio: CJOB680/Power 97
The Winnipeg Jets find themselves on a three game losing streak as they get set to take on rookie phenom Connor Bedard & the Chicago Blackhawks. The hometowns boys will try to grasp an ideal chance to break out of their offensive funk, as the Hawks have given up the 10th most goals against this season. Both franchises are 2-3 in their past five games and have struggled to score in those matches (10 goals for Hawks, 9 for the Jets).
From my perspective, I don’t think the Jets have played horribly through their past three losses. With better goaltending against Nashville and better finishing versus the Stars & Oilers, Winnipeg could have easily come out with at least two victories. So, hopefully the coaching staff is able to build off all the things they have been doing well, while trying to add improvements like being better in the face-off circle and making sure there are bodies in front of the net to screen opposing goaltenders.
The Winnipeg Jets will be without the services of Vladislav Namestnikov for a game or two, so the coaching staff will have to re-jig the forward lines and hope that the players can find their scoring touches again. Sounds like David Gustafsson will draw back into the lineup, while Declan Chisholm will don the Winnipeg jersey for the first time this season, in place of Nate Schmidt.
Thought I would give some accolades to Cole Perfetti, who pocketed his 8th goal of the season in the Oilers game. When Perfetti has been on the ice this season, Winnipeg has scored 72.7% of the goals (62.8% of expected goals) and he has a +15 goal differential. Those are some impressive stats for the young forward and have to make Jets’ fans feel good about his future play.
No official word on who will start for the Jets, will the coaches decide to try and get Laurent Brossoit (2-2-1) a win against a “lesser” team or will they go with the hot Connor Hellebuyck (10-6-1-1)?
The Chicago Blackhawks have been led in scoring by Bedard, who has 10 goals and 18 points to open his debut season. They have added a new foward in Anthony Beauvillier from the Vancouver Canucks and he is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Petr Mrazek (5-7-0) hasn’t played terribly while facing a barrage of shots, putting up a .900 save percentage to this point. However, young back up Arvid Soderblom has struggled a bit more (2-7-0/.882%) behind the Hawks’ porous defense.
Here’s how the two teams match up:
GOALS FOR/GAME: Chicago – 2.57 / Winnipeg – 3.27
GOALS AGAINST/GAME: Chicago – 3.71 / Winnipeg – 2.86
SHOTS FOR/GAME: Chicago – 27.8 / Winnipeg – 31.3
SHOTS AGAINST/GAME: Chicago – 33 / Winnipeg – 28.1
POWERPLAY: Chicago – 10.3% / Winnipeg – 18.9%
PENALTY KILLING: Chicago – 76.8% / Winnipeg – 73.1%
This is a Hawks team that has only managed to win 33% of their games to date and have the second worst team goal differential in the NHL (-24, only ahead of the San Jose Sharks -54), so the Jets really do have to take advantage of the opportunity to add two points to their total. That being said, I really hope the players aren’t taking this afternoon’s game too lightly, because good teams only consistently beat bad teams by playing to the top of their abilities.
The Jets’ attendance was pretty good against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, will Connor Bedard show up the NHL’s current MVP by packing a sell-out crowd into Canada Life Centre?
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