The Winnipeg Jets finally ended an extended road trip that saw too many losses added to the record column and are now back home in the Peg. Visiting the city is a divisional rival in the St. Louis Blues, who have picked up their game (2-0-1) since switching head coaches.
Winnipeg (18-7-0) is winless in their past 3 contests, hampered by a nagging injury to top center Mark Scheifele and the loss of the services of defenseman Dylan Samberg & forward Nikolaj Ehlers. Tonight at the Canada Life Centre, the squad will be looking to reverse the trend against a St. Louis (11-12-2) team that is also dealing with injuries. The Blues are currently without Pavel Buchnevich, Torey Krug, & Nick Leddy, however former Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has his new team playing well defensively (5 total GA in past 3 gms).
Illegal Curve has reported that Ehlers has been placed on IR, allowing the Winnipeg Jets to recall speedy forward Brad Lambert from their AHL affiliate. From all appearances, the young Finn will get right into the action, centering the Jets’ 2nd forward unit. It isn’t the standard Scott Arniel lineup, so check out how PuckPedia is predicting Winnipeg & St. Louis to line up their players this evening:
Quite the shuffle for Winnipeg, with changes occurring to the top 2 forward lines and the bottom defensive pairing. At least the team should know what it will get with their regular bottom six forward units in tact. Good to see some of the Jets’ youth get into tonight’s contest, with Cole Perfetti, Ville Heinola, & Brad Lambert all being fairly recent 1st round draft picks.
Lets check out how the two franchises compare head-to-head based on this season’s stats and take a peek at ESPN’s review of the masked men:
While the last two graphics seem to heavily favour the Winnipeg Jets in Tuesday’s contest, our squad is beaten up and probably a little fragile mentally after extending their longest winless drought of the season. So it will be important for Winnipeg to pocket an early goal or two and avoid the chance of falling behind…an early confidence boost will go a long way to helping the Jets find a way to victory without two of their key players.
Totally pumped for Lambert, as he gets his 2nd career NHL game under his belt. The Manitoba Moose’s top center has played well in his last two AHL outings, picking up a pair of points when his team only scored 3 total goals.
The Winnipeg Jets have a 9-1-0 record at home this season, while the visiting St. Louis Blues have gone 6-6-1 away from Missouri. So what will it be tonight? Will the Jets pull out their dark blue jerseys for a little magic to end the losing skid? Can Lambo maintain his point per game pace at the NHL level (1 pt in 1 gm)? Will Winnipeg be able to create enough offense and if so, who is going to provide it.
Lets hear it in the comment section as we await the puck drop at 7 pm Central.
Go Winnipeg!!!
