Time: 3:00 pm CST
Channel: TSN
Radio: CJOB680/Power 97
With a win on Saturday afternoon, the Winnipeg Jets can complete a season sweep of the Minnesota Wild as they enter the contest with a 3-0 record versus their neighbours to the south. The Wild have dropped both games in Winnipeg (4-2 & 6-3), while losing a close 3-2 match at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul to date.
As we start the weekend, the Jets have clinched a playoff spot and sit with the NHL’s 8th best record, but still have some possible jockeying to do in terms post-season positioning. The Colorado Avalanche have dropped 4 of their last 6 contests, potentially opening the door for Winnipeg to steal home-ice advantage in the first round. With last night’s loss to the Oilers, the Avs sit 4 pts in front of the Jets with an extra game played, so the April 13th match between the two franchises could play a big role in making the final determination. Both teams have some difficult opposition in their remaining schedules, with Colorado having to face Dallas, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Vegas, & Edmonton while Winnipeg will see Minnesota, Nashville, Dallas, Colorado, Seattle, & Vancouver.
After picking up a hat trick against the Flames increasing Gabriel Vilardi’s goal total for the year up to 19, the winger will be looking to reach the 20 goal mark for the second straight season and may even have an outside shot at matching his career-best of 23 goals. Despite my being rather late getting this preview done, I still don’t have word on Winnipeg’s starter for this afternoon so we will have to wait for the pre-game skate to find out.
The Minnesota Wild are the league’s 20th place team and while not officially eliminated from the playoffs, they do trail the final wildcard spot by 10 points so a late charge seems unlikely. After playing the cheap-shotting Calgary Flames last game, the Jets have to run the gauntlet of the chippy Wild on Saturday. They did get a break though, as Minnesota’s key bonehead Ryan Hartman is serving a suspension for throwing his stick in the crowd. I’m sure guys like Cole Perfetti & Nikolaj Ehlers are happy to have less of a chance of being hit when they don’t have the puck in today’s game by the gutless rat. Minnesota has gone 2-2-2 in their past 6 matches with their only wins coming against bottom-dwellers Ottawa & San Jose, so if Winnipeg plays their game a win should be the likely outcome.
But you never know how divisional rivalries will go. Here is how the teams stack up stats-wise:
For the most part, the teams match up well in the goals & shot categories, other than Winnipeg’s advantage in goals against. The special team info suggests it would behoove the Jets to stay out of the box, as the Wild’s PP conversion rate is impressive, however their PK looks weak and it is possible Winnipeg could gain more confidence with the man-advantage.
Game starts in about 3 hours…so I better get this posted. Probably should go and enjoy some of the sunny weekend Winnipeg is getting.
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