Time: 1:00 PM CST
Channel: TSN3
Radio: CJOB680
The Winnipeg Jets are starting a home and home to end 2023 against the Minnesota Wild. I know, the most exciting words you have ever read. However, these are key games for the Jets with the Wild being not good and the Jets needing to flex some muscle after a pitiful performance against the Chicago Blackhawks. And no, I will not let that loss go quietly.
The Jets are a good team, but they struggle to show up against bad teams. They need to show up against the Wild and take the four points against them. Both for the standings with the Nashville Predators bearing down on them from the Wild Card (okay, five points back), and for their egos. They could build a considerable gap on the Preds this weekend.
The Jets will hopefully play both goalies this weekend because back to backs, especially with travel in between, can be hard on everyone and goalies are shown to struggle when they play back to backs. The Jets are not always one to do this, but this would be a good series to do it during. The team will be playing under the same circumstances as their opponent, but Laurent Brossoit isn’t bad. The Jets will need to use every possibly strategy to do well this weekend.
The Wild are on a four game win streak and are better at home than on the road. The Jets will need to be even sharper on Sunday if they want to win. However, on Saturday, they will have to put their best foot forward and watch out for Kirill Kaprizov and company (including Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello). The Jets do have their red-hot first line, but it might not be enough if the Wild’s guns get going. Unless Winnipeg’s guns respond in kind without Kyle Connor (cries in goals).
The Jets will again play the afternoon of New Year’s Eve.
