The Winnipeg Jets faceoff against the Montreal Canadiens tonight for the last regular season meeting between the two clubs. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. central time.
Tonight’s game is the start of a three-game road trip for the Jets who head to Ottawa and Calgary next week before returning home to close out the season with two games against the Senators.
The Jets go into Montreal riding the longest active losing streak in the NHL having dropped their last five games. The Canadiens lost their last game 4-1 on Wednesday night to the division leading Toronto Maple Leafs.
With a victory tonight The Jets can create an eight-point cushion in the standings between them and fourth place Montreal.
Even in defeat last game, there were some signs of hope for the Jets as they only gave up two goals, with one empty net goal, against the high powered Edmonton Oilers offense. Perhaps getting back on the road where the Jets have managed16 of their 27 victories this season will be the key to ending this five game slide.
Odds
The Jets are the underdogs in tonight’s matchup. This is completely expected as the Jets have lost five games in a row and are facing a Canadiens team that is still in a battle for the final playoff spot in the North division.
Where you can Find the Game
TV: TSN3, SNW
Radio: 680 CJOB
Livestream: TSN.ca, TSN app, ESPN+
Projected Lineups
Any doubts that Nikolaj Ehlers is the most important Jets forward have been erased by the teams’ dismal offensive output over the last five games. During that time the Jets have only scored six goals, while allowing 21 goals against. Scary!
Although the team really misses Nikolaj Ehlers goal scoring, offensive creativity and offensive zone entries it is time for the Jets top nine forwards to step up. There is too much talent up front for the team to perform so poorly. Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Paul Stastny, and Kyle Connor have to start contributing offensively like they were earlier in the season.
Pierre Luc Dubois has looked better recently in terms of his physical play and defensive presence, but the Jets need more offense from him. As of Wednesday, Adam Lowry was practicing with the team in a non-contact jersey. Given that he sustained a concussion (unconfirmed, but pretty obvious from the hit he received), I suspect that the team will be cautious with only five regular season games remaining.
Jordie Benn got the start on the third defense pair against the Oilers and will likely start again over Logan Stanley. I’ve said it before, but I’d like to see Stanley in the lineup permanently. Perhaps it is time to consider some load management for Derek Forbort or Tucker Poolman.
Connor Hellebuyck has been in a bit of a slump, but looked better on Wednesday night against the Oilers only letting in two goals. I would expect him to start against the Canadiens.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Connor-Dubois-Wheeler
Copp-Scheifele-Appleton
Vesalinen-Stastny-Perreault
Harkins-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Benn-DeMelo
Hellebuyck (Brossoit)
Goaltender Carey Price resumed off ice activity on Thursday as part of his recovery from a concussion. Until that time, Jake Allen will continue as the Habs primary goaltender.
As of April 22 forward Jonathan Drouin left the team for personal reasons, which opened the door for highly touted rookie Cole Caufield to step into the line up playing on the second line. Brendan Gallagher remains out with a fractured thumb.
The strength of the Canadiens is their defense. Ben Chiarot returned to the line up and is paired with Shea Weber on the top pair, and their second and third pairs may be the best in the North division. For the Canadiens to make any noise in the post season they are going to need their forwards to score more goals. After Tyler Toffoli who has scored 25 goals, defenseman Jeff Petry is next in goals scored with 11.
The Canadiens are expected to lineup like this:
Lehtkonen-Danault-Anderson
Toffoli-Suzuki-Caufield
Armia-Kokkaniemi-Perry
Frolik-Staal-Evans
Chairot-Weber
Edmundson-Petry
Romanov-Merrill
Allen (Primeau)
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Winnipeg Jets finally break their losing streak and Win tonight’s game? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*