Two games doesn’t make a year, but Winnipeg Jets fans will take what they can get. Their team (18-18-5) can stretch a win-streak to three games on New Year’s Eve, when they face the Buffalo Sabres (11-24-4) at the MTS Centre.
The Jets and Sabres close out their season series on Tuesday night, in which Buffalo won the opener, 4-2. The Sabres come in to the match-up with two wins in the four games following the Dec. 17th game against Winnipeg, including a 2-1 victory against the Washington Capitals on Sunday. The Jets returned after the Christmas break, winning two huge divisional games against the Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild. The Jets hold a 6-1-1 record all-time against the Sabres.
It will be a battle of the back-ups on Tuesday, as Al Montoya will take the goal for the Jets, and Jhonas Enroth will be in net for the Sabres. Montoya has won his last three games, averaging a 2.02 goals against with a .929% save percentage in 12 appearances this year. Enroth, who has not had a winning decision since October 21st, has a 2.62 GAA and a .909% save percentage in 12 games.
The Jets have a healthy active roster heading into the game, but will still be missing Matt Halischuk (Broken Arm), Paul Postma (Blood Clot), and Jim Slater (Hernia), who are all on Injured Reserve. The Sabres’ Alexander Sulzer will return to the lineup after missing over two weeks with an undisclosed injury. Cody Hodgson (finger), Kevin Porter (leg), and Cody McCormick (finger) will still be held off the Buffalo roster.
You can view the game on TSN Jets, as well as listen live on TSN 1290 radio. Non-regional viewers can see the game on MSG-Buffalo. Puck drop is at 6:00 PM Central Time.
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