The Winnipeg Jets have handled their followers to a few close to excellent outings prior to now week, starting with a 3-0 shutout of the Colorado Avalanche after which following that up with a 6-1 embarrassment of the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The return of defenseman Dylan Samberg from harm has helped Winnipeg to solidify play in their very own finish, which is confirmed by the Jets preserving their opponents to beneath 2.00 anticipated objectives & a mixed 46 photographs on web prior to now two outings. In fact, the stellar play of Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t harm both, together with his .978 save share in opposition to the Avs & Nucks pretty near perfection.
With their latest success, Winnipeg (30-12-3) stays in a battle for the President’s Trophy as they sit in a tie with the Washington Capitals (who’ve a recreation in hand). Our Jets are additionally the very best scoring crew within the NHL (162 objectives), barely holding off Alexander Ovechkin’s Caps (159). The True Northers have picked up factors in 4 straight video games and might be seeking to make the most of the ultimate 2 video games of their season-long 8 recreation homestand.
Seattle (19-23-3) wasn’t capable of copy the success of the Vegas Golden Knights of their first season as an growth crew, ending in a tie for the tenth worst document within the league. Sadly for the Kraken, this season has gone even worse up to now, as they discover themselves in a tie for the seventh worst document in 2024-25. Tonight’s opposition has gone 2-6-1 of their final 7 contests, with their solely wins coming in opposition to non-playoff groups just like the Buffalo Sabres & Pittsburgh Penguins. The crew from the state of Washington has been common offensively this 12 months (seventeenth most objectives), however are worse than that in their very own finish (seventh most objectives allowed).
It’s early, so who is aware of how correct PuckPedia’s lineup predictions might be, however lets verify them out in any case.
Primarily based on yesterday’s Winnipeg Jets’ apply, it seems that Colin Miller could be very near getting back from taking a puck within the throat since he was skating in a full-contact jersey. Nevertheless, the defensive pairings appeared to counsel that Ville Heinola & Logan Stanley will stay because the third duo. It additionally feels like Haydn Fleury could be very near a return, so the Jets could have a full secure of defensemen quickly. Which explains why Dylan Coghlan was despatched all the way down to the Manitoba Moose just lately. The harm entrance is unchanged for the forwards although, with Mason Appleton & Vladislav Namestnikov nonetheless on the shelf.
The Seattle Kraken aren’t with out their very own worries, as they’re with out key forwards Jordan Eberle (LTIR) and Yanni Gourde.
Time for all of the graphics…..this time displaying every squad’s prime 10 scorers, a take a look at the franchises’ goalies, and the way the groups evaluate based mostly on this season’s stats (through ESPN).
As I anticipate the puck to drop on the Canada Life Centre (7 pm Central), the largest query in my thoughts is whether or not Scott Arniel will resolve to begin backup Eric Comrie tonight? Whereas his 3-6-1 document isn’t very spectacular, Comrie has the twenty second finest save share (.904%) within the NHL for tenders with greater than 7 appearances and the Jets have solely scored 8 complete objectives in 6 of his losses. And that doesn’t even think about that the backup has needed to take care of all 4 of Winnipeg’s second half of back-to-back conditions.
So in the event that they don’t begin Bucky in opposition to Seattle…..lets hope the Jets’ skaters can put a couple of pucks within the web to assist him get a win. Benefit from the good break within the climate…loopy 20 diploma change in a single day (-20 to three Celsius) to provide us Winnipeggers a pleasant three day break from the chilly.
Go Winnipeg!!!!
