Winnipeg Jets Game 42: Start the Second Half Right

To keep pace in a tight division race, the Winnipeg Jets need to win games against opponents like Buffalo. Keep the line moving, boys.

Connor Hellebuyck will take the net against Buffalo Sabres backup Chad Johnson. Johnson has one win in 11 starts and an .884 save percentage. Yeesh. He played the third period in last night’s game, taking over for starter Robin Lehner. Lehner had allowed six goals to the Wild in just 40 minutes. Not great going into a back to back.

Connor Hellebuyck needs no introduction. The Jets are smart to keep running him out there, and he’s won three of his last four starts. In his last five, he’s 3-0-2. He was in net when the Avs won in OT the other night. This is a slam dunk advantage for Winnipeg. Goaltending has been a problem in Buffalo since Ryan Miller left. Sabres are to goalies as the Cleveland Browns are to quarterbacks.

What to watch for

For the Winnipeg Jets, it’ll be interesting to see if they use Marko Dano can get more ice time and be a factor. He might be getting his final opportunity in Winnipeg. He has a great shot and could be an asset on the second power play unit, although the Jets don’t really need more scoring punch.

Also, this is about as trap games as trap games get. Bad team on the second night of a back to back with their starting netminder on the bench. Jets will have to come out and want this one. Every point counts in this division, the Jets need two tonight. No two ways about it.

And on the other side, Evander Kane! He comes back to visit the team that dealt him (and Zach Bogosian) for Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford. The inconsistent wing has been a bright spot in Buffalo, leading the team with 16 goals. He’s also second in assists behind Jack Eichel.

Eichel is also something to look for. He’s incredibly talented and having a decent year. The former second overall pick is a little under a point per game, but Buffalo really needed him to be a superstar once they lost out on the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. Don’t worry, Sabres fans, he’s still only 21. But people really expected him to break out this season, and it hasn’t happened yet.

Next: Winnipeg Jets Should Utilize Michael Hutchinson

Defenseman Taylor Fedun is still out with a lower body injury. Victor Antipin sat out the last two games with an illness, and is uncertain tonight. Tobias Enstrom, Mark Scheifele and Brandon Tanev are all out for the Jets. Enjoy the game, folks.