The Winnipeg Jets welcome the Los Angeles Kings to Bell MTS Place Tuesday night. The Jets tied Nashville for the central division lead……again. The Kings are two points outside a wild card spot in the west. Both teams have something at stake in this game, so it should be a good one.
The Winnipeg Jets come off a destroying of Colorado and Florida to face the Kings and newly acquired defenseman Dion Phaneuf. The Kings are winners of 2 of their last 5 with Phaneuf already contributing 2 goals in 3 games for his new team.
For the Jets, Mark Scheifele has 3 goals, 5 assists, and a +7 +/- since his return from injury and was awarded the 3rd Star of the Week by the NHL. This will be the last game of Winnipeg’s 10 game homestand that has seen the Jets go 6-3. The real question for this game is which Jets team will show up. The one we’ve seen from the last two games? Or the one we saw during the St. Louis and New York losses?
Injuries
For the King’s: They will be out Jeff Carter as he heals from a lacerated left ankle tendon. Also out will be Trevor Lewis with a mystery upper-body injury that the team has him listed as being out for an “unknown amount of time.”
For the Jets: The same list as the Florida game.
Michael Hutchinson – Hutchinson has a concussion and it is undetermined when he will return.
Adam Lowry – Lowry has been designated with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.
Steve Mason – Mason is on injured reserve also with a concussion. He has started skating but there is no definitive timetable for a return.
Shawn Matthias – Matthias sustained an upper-body injury and is without a timetable for return.
Brandon Tanev – Tanev has an upper-body injury and is on a week-to-week basis.
Jacob Trouba – Trouba has an ankle injury and is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks.
Starting Goaltenders
For the Kings: Johnathan Quick
Quick is 23-20-2 with a 2.48 GAA, 0.921 SV%, and 3 shutouts. Decent stats for just being over .500.
For the Jets: Connor Hellebuyck
Connor is 31-8-8 with a similar 2.33 GAA, 0.923 SV%, and 5 shutouts.
Three Things to Watch For
The Jets Defense – I know I have been harping on this for over a week now, but the defense is key. Florida had opportunities on the counterattack and the Jets had to rely on Hellebuyck to bail them out a few times. If the Jets want to continue winning they have to keep opposing forwards from getting around or behind their defense.
Kyle Connor – The rookie has found how to use his speed smartly and it is paying off. He has 6 goals and 9 points in his last 9 games and looks like a young player who is turning the corner. So, keep an eye on him.
Next: Scouting the Trade Market, New York Rangers
Blake Wheeler – The Jets captain is playing great hockey right now. Wheeler has 2 goals and 8 points in his last four games, leading the team’s offense off the walls and with his east-west passing. If he has the puck on his stick pay attention because something is going to happen.