Time: 6:00 pm CST
Channel: Sportsnet
Radio: CJOB680/Power 97
The Winnipeg Jets will be trying to avoid tying their longest losing streak of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening. The Jets dropped a 1-0 contest in overtime against the Leafs on Wednesday for their 2nd loss in a row, just one game away from matching their longest skid of the year (have had 2 three game losing streaks to date).
Offense has become an issue for the men from Winnipeg lately, as they have scored just three goals in their last three games, but the potential returns of Josh Morrissey and Gabriel Vilardi will hopefully improve their sniping capabilities. Unfortunately, we will have to wait for Mark Scheifele’s return to the lineup until after the All-Star break, as the center was still feeling his groin strain at yesterday’s practice.
As we can see from the Central Division standings below, the Winnipeg Jets are sitting in 2nd place with games in hand on both the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars. The Avs are off tonight, so the Jets can re-take the top spot in the division with a victory at the Canada Life Centre.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently sitting in a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, but have games in hand on the Tampa Bay Lightning so they will be looking to leapfrog their division rivals with a victory on Saturday. Ilya Samsonov is coming off an excellent game against the Jets where he stopped all the shots he faced and has had two straight quality starts after the disastrous beginning to his season. The Leafs’ Auston Matthews is having a great season to date, leading to a league leading 39 goals in only 45 games including the overtime winner in Wednesday’s contest in Toronto.
Here’s how the two franchises’ stats look coming into tonight’s’ clash:
With the Jets only having an optional morning skate today, we probably won’t have an idea of who will be playing where tonight until the puck drops. In net, I am guessing that we will get to witness a duel between Connor Hellebuyck and Ilya Samsonov in the last game before the All-Star break.
Can Winnipeg find some more offense tonight while continuing to play well defensively? Or will the most annoying fan base in the NHL get to celebrate another Toronto victory? Drop by around supper time to watch the game along with the rest of the AIH faithful and share your thoughts on the match.
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