Winnipeg Jets vs Vegas Golden Knights
7pm CT, Bell MTS Place, TV: TSN. Radio: TSN 1290
THE BIG MATCHUP
Connor Hellebuyck vs Maxime Lagace
It’s expected to be a rematch between the two goalies who faced one another in the first meeting back on Nov. 10. Hellebuyck was pulled in that game and he’s looking for one of his customary “redemption” games, especially after being upset about the tying goal he allowed in Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Lagace hasn’t been as busy since the return of Malcolm Subban, but he made 27 saves against the Jets and is 5-5-1 this season.
Keys to the game
Starting anew
The Jets not only survived a busy month of 14 games in 27 days with some taxing travel, they were able to collect points in 11 of them, posting a record of 9-3-2 – which pushed them within one point of the St. Louis Blues for top spot in both the Central Division and Western Conference.
No Little development
After a slow offensive start to the season, Jets centre Bryan Little has found his form. With a goal in Wednesday’s overtime loss, the veteran pivot has four goals and eight points during his past nine games and is up to five goals and 14 points in 25 games.
Don’t forget to count
The Jets were caught with too many men on the ice twice against the Colorado Avalanche and the second one proved to be costly, as it led to a four-on-three power play in overtime that allowed Nathan MacKinnon to deliver the game-winning goal. It was another self-inflicted wound that could have been prevented.
Settle down
Although he’s unlikely to admit it, the fact Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien has gone 23 games without scoring a goal and 10 games since his last assist has led to him pressing offensively. Byfuglien has been physical (he recorded a game-high eight hits on Wednesday), but he just needs to keep shooting and the offence will eventually come.
Eyes on Karlsson
The former Columbus Blue Jackets centre has developed into a top-line centre with the Golden Knights and had 13 goals and 22 points in 23 games heading into Thursday’s tilt with the Minnesota Wild. In the first meeting with the Jets on Nov. 10, Karlsson scored a pair of goals – including a pretty shorthanded marker.
GAME DAY LINEUPS
Winnipeg Jets
Forwards
Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers-Bryan Little-Patrik Laine
Andrew Copp- Adam Lowry-Brandon Tanev
Mathieu Perreault-Matt Hendricks-Joel Armia
Defence
Josh Morrissey -Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot-Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov-Tyler Myers
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Vegas Golden Knights
Forwards
Reilly Smith-William Karlsson-Jonathan Marchessault
James Neal-Erik Haula- Alex Tuch
Oscar Lindberg -Cody Eakin-Brendan Leipsic
Stefan Matteau-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Tomas Nosek
Defence
Brayden McNabb-Nate Schmidt
Shea Theodore-Deryk Engelland
Colin Miller-Brad Hunt
Goalies
Maxime Lagace
Malcolm Subban
Special Teams
POWER PLAY
Winnipeg: 23.5% (5th)
Vegas: 20.5% (15th)
PENALTY KILLING
Winnipeg 77.5% (23rd)
Vegas: 79.7% (18th)
SICK BAY
Jets: G Steve Mason (concussion, IR), D Toby Enstrom (lower body, IR)
Golden Knights: G Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion, IR), G Oscar Dansk (lower body, IR), D Clayton Stoner (undisclosed, IR), RW David Perron (upper body, IR), C Will Carrier (upper body, day-to-day), RW David Clarkson (back, IR), C Mikhail Grabovski (concussion, IR), RW Reid Duke (shoulder, IR)