The Winnipeg Jets have had a pair days off after squeaking out an extra time win over the Edmonton Oilers, hopefully permitting the teaching workers to work on the group’s particular groups throughout yesterday’s follow. Our squad continues to be main the Nationwide Hockey League in profitable powerplay conversion (30%), however groups just like the Vegas Golden Knights (29.8%) and Detroit Pink Wings (29%) need to oust the Jets from their perch.
The True Northers will get again to work when the Buffalo Sabres go to the Canada Life Centre on Sunday afternoon (2 pm Central begin). It will likely be the second of two contests between the franchises within the 2024-25 season, with Winnipeg pulling out a 3-2 extra time victory in New York state earlier within the yr.
The Jets (48-18-4) are sitting within the NHL’s #2 spot with 100 factors on the marketing campaign, a mere 2 factors behind the league main Washington Capitals. The magic quantity for Winnipeg to lock up the Central Division & Western Convention stays at 9 because the Dallas Stars edged the Philadelphia Flyers in OT on Saturday. Our Jets are the 2nd highest scoring group within the NHL (243 objectives for) whereas additionally being the league’s finest defensive squad (165 objectives in opposition to).
The Sabres’ (27-35-6) season has not gone the way in which administration wished as soon as once more, because the East Coasters are the worst group within the Atlantic Division with 60 factors, placing them twenty ninth in your entire NHL. That will likely be 13 straight seasons and not using a playoff look by Buffalo, one thing that should be significantly testing their fanbase’s dedication to the franchise. Based mostly on the stats this season, the dearth of a post-season look isn’t the fault of their offense (fifteenth most objectives scored), however appears to obviously relaxation with the group protection/goaltending (twenty ninth most objectives allowed).
Since there will likely be no pre-game skate because of the afternoon puck drop, we must go together with PuckPedia’s predictions for now. The Sabres did play yesterday in opposition to the Minnesota Wild (4-1 L), so I’d count on Manitoban James Reimer to get the beginning in web as we speak. In terms of our Jets, Connor Hellebuyck’s current struggles makes me suppose Sunday could be an ideal time for an Eric Comrie begin. Guess we’ll wait and see….
It will likely be fascinating to see whether or not Winnipeg Jets’ coach Scott Arniel makes some alterations to the lineup as we speak. He has stored the identical roster rolling just lately, so will he maintain making an attempt to construct chemistry with these guys or will we lastly see somebody new inserted. Rasmus Kupari hasn’t performed since taking a tricky bodycheck, Logan Stanley has been a press field common, whereas gamers like David Gustafsson & Ville Heinola are doubtless lengthy photographs to interrupt in with out accidents additional up the depth chart.
The Buffalo Sabres have been operating a 11 forward-7 defensemen lineup just lately as a result of accidents to Joshua Norris & Jiri Kulich, so we must see if that continues in opposition to our squad.
Okay, time for us to dive into the numbers for a bit with Arctic Ice Hockey’s overview of how the Jets & Sabres evaluate primarily based on this yr’s stats and ESPN’s take a look at the goaltending scenario:
Whereas that is definitely not an in-depth evaluation, a fast scan of the above numbers offers me the sensation that the Winnipeg Jets ought to be the higher group when the puck drops at 2 pm. In addition to the Buffalo Sabres’ offense helped by gamers like Tage Thompson (60 pts), JJ Peterka (53 pts), & Rasmus Dahlin (53 pts), & Alex Tuch (50 pts), the visiting squad doesn’t stack up that properly in opposition to the True Northers. Nevertheless, the query stays whether or not the match will really play out that means….so that you higher tune in.
Effectively, it’s 10 am already so I ought to get this posted in order that AIH members could make their predictions for the upcoming contest. Hope you loved your weekend and that our Jets assist to make it even higher with a powerful efficiency this afternoon.
Go Winnipeg!!!!!
