With solely three days left within the NHL’s common season schedule earlier than the 4 Nations Face-Off kicks off, our Winnipeg Jets are making ready for his or her closing match earlier than the break. At this time limit, solely Connor Hellebuyck (US), Josh Morrissey (CAN), and Kyle Connor (US) can be lacking out on some relaxation & leisure, though there’s nonetheless an opportunity Mark Scheifele will get tapped as an harm alternative for Workforce Canada. Tonight’s opposition, the New York Islanders, solely have pending UFA Brock Nelson becoming a member of the event on Workforce USA, though Mathew Barzal & Noah Dobson got here shut to creating the Canadian squad.
The Canada Life Centre in Manitoba can be rocking tonight when two of the league’s hottest groups sq. off, with the Jets (11-2-1) and Islanders (11-3-0) enjoying extraordinarily properly proper now. The True North franchise could have an opportunity to match their longest successful streak of the season with a victory tonight, so hopefully we’ll see a motivated squad when the puck drops at 7 pm.
The Jets presently maintain on to the 2nd greatest document within the NHL and want to proceed successful video games to lock up the highest spot within the Central Division, whereas the Isles are simply exterior of the wildcard image within the twentieth place. The Lengthy Islanders have used their latest sizzling streak to tug inside sniffing distance of the ultimate wildcard spot within the East (4 pts out with a recreation in hand), which has break up the fanbase between those who need New York to sneak in and those who need them to tank for a greater draft decide within the upcoming draft.
As it’s previous to the group’s pre-game skate, we must go together with PuckPedia’s predictions for the beginning lineups:
The Winnipeg Jets will stay with out key defensive forwards in captain Adam Lowry and key penalty killer Morgan Barron, however are in any other case comparatively wholesome. The New York Islanders can’t say the identical factor, as they’re lacking a boatload of gamers: Noah Dobson, Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, Semyon Varlamov, & Mike Rielly.
An enormous a part of the Islanders’ present sizzling streak has been the play of goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Whereas the Russian’s 2.59 GAA on the season is nice, the goalie has been enjoying higher than that over his previous 7 begins. All of these ended up with a NY win, in addition to the East Coasters limiting the opposition to 2 targets or much less.
After all the Jets can name on their very own star goalie since Connor Hellebuyck is in the course of what may find yourself as his greatest NHL season thus far. A 2.04 GAA and a .925 save share characterize the most effective numbers Bucky has ever put up in hockey’s greatest league. And that’s saying one thing for a man who already has two Vezina’s on the shelf of his show case. Hellebuyck hasn’t been the one Winnipeg skater to seek out success this season, because the Jets’ high two forwards are having a yr at this level. Mark Scheifele’s 31 targets has him sitting in third place within the NHL and his 61 factors places him in a impasse for thirteenth in league scoring. Kyle Connor can also be proper up there, along with his 30 targets (fifth in NHL) and 67 factors (tied for sixth) placing him on tempo for one more nice marketing campaign.
Time to take a look at our Match Up graphic evaluating the 2 franchises’ stats thus far and ESPN’s have a look at the boys within the crease:
Alright….we’ve all of the numbers we have to divine whether or not our Winnipeg Jets can sustain their successful methods after they conflict with the New York Islanders this night. So lets hear your ideas, predictions, and considerations in regards to the upcoming recreation within the Remark part. Have an important day!!
Go Winnipeg!!!!!!
