The Winnipeg Jets (6-3-2) host the Dallas Stars (7-5-0) at the MTS Centre in their first matchup of the 2017-18 NHL season. Puck drop is at 6 PM MT.
JETS LINEUP
Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers-Bryan Little-Patrik Laine
Brandon Tanev-Andrew Copp-Shawn Matthias
Brendan Lemieux-Matt Hendricks-Joel Armia
Josh Morrissey-Jacob Trouba
Tobias Enstrom-Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov-Tyler Myers
STARS LINEUP
Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Alexander Radulov
Antoine Roussel-Jason Spezza-Brett Ritchie
Gemel Smith-Radek Faksa-Tyler Pitlick
Mattias Janmark-Devin Shore-Remi Elie
Marc Methot-John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis-Greg Pateryn
Jamie Oleksiak-Esa Lindell
THE JETS LATELY
The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday to increase their winning streak to two games. The Jets came out firing on all cylinders but sat back as the game went on, but were able to hold on to the lead and ultimately come away with a victory.
The Jets had a goal by Tyler Myers taken away on a horrible hand pass call that was considered unreviewable by the NHL. Rookie Kyle Connor scored near the middle of the third period. Nikolaj Ehlers took advantage of a Matt Dumba giveaway to score the game-winning goal 43 seconds into the third period.
Connor Hellebuyck was stellar once again stopping 28 of 29 shots to improve his record to an outstanding 6-0-1.
MATCHUP
The Stars are also on a two-game winning streak coming off a 2-1 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Alexander Radulov scored the overtime winner, while also adding an assist on Tyler Seguin’s opening power play goal.
This will be the first battle of the season between the Stars and Jets this season. Last year, the Jets took the season series with a 4-1-0 record that included an 8-2 thrashing in November.
These Stars won’t be thrashed the way they were yesterday after improving their goaltending by adding Ben Bishop in between the pipes.
The Stars will be without defender Stephen Johns and centre Martin Hanzal, while the Jets are still without Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault.
No surprises between the pipes as Ben Bishop and Connor Hellebuyck will be in the crease when the puck drops tonight.
PREDICTION FOR TONIGHT
The Jets have been playing solid defensively but the Stars are a high-event offensive team and the team’s will trade goals the whole way.
The Stars get goals from Jamie Benn, Tyler Pitlick and two from Alexander Radulov, while the Jets get a pair of goals from Bryan Little and one from Jacob Trouba.
The Jets ultimately come up short in a 4-3 loss, but the game is wildly entertaining and comes down to the final second with a desperation save by Ben Bishop on Patrik Laine in the final seconds.