One season removed from winning the Presidents’ Trophy, the Winnipeg Jets are still trying to find a winning form.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings have positioned themselves as a potential contender for that same achievement this season.
On Saturday night, the Red Wings, riding a four-game point streak, visit the Jets, who haven’t lost a home game in regulation in over two weeks.
Not only is Detroit poised to end a playoff drought that dates back to 2016, but its 67 points were tied for the most in the Eastern Conference entering Friday’s games. Additionally, the Wings are at least in the conversation for a run at the Presidents’ Trophy. Since Nov. 29, the Red Wings are 18-5-4, earning a point during Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss at Minnesota, despite blowing a pair of third-period leads.
“You hope when you get it to overtime that it goes your way, and it has gone our way quite a bit,” said Detroit coach Todd McLellan, whose squad was playing the second half of a back-to-back.
“We’ll take the point, get some rest, try to heal up (Friday) and get ready for another tough one.”
With two goals on Thursday, Lucas Raymond boosted his Red Wings’ points lead to 56. He has registered seven points in the last four games.
Raymond has recorded six points in his last three games versus Winnipeg, including an assist during the Red Wings’ 2-1 home victory on New Year’s Eve.
The Jets won nine of their first 12 games this season but have been one of the NHL’s unexpected disappointments since then, going 11-20-7. However, they are currently on a 5-1-2 overall run and a six-game home point streak (4-0-2).
Cole Perfetti’s third-period goal tied the game Thursday at home against Florida, but Winnipeg lost 2-1 in a shootout. Although the Jets remain competitive and have earned some points for their recent efforts, they’ve scored only four goals and gone 1-1-1 in their last 3 games.
“At the end of the day, these are tight games,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said.”At this time of year, it’s those greasy goals, and we’ve got to get back in scoring a few of those.”
Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele has been held without a point in three of the last four games, while fellow star Kyle Connor hasn’t produced any in two of the last three. Both were blanked against the Red Wings last month.
The Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck has stopped 106 of 114 shots he’s faced over his last four starts. He saw just 19 shots at Detroit earlier this season, saving 17.
Meanwhile, teammate Eric Comrie has stopped 45 of 47 shots while winning his last two starts.
Detroit veteran John Gibson has been exceptional while posting a 2.05 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in winning 16 of his last 18 starts. He’s allowed just 13 goals during his current seven-start winning streak.
Teammate Cam Talbot has a 3.32 GAA while 0-1-2 this month. However, he’s made 73 saves in his last two starts.
Former teammates in Chicago and future Hall of Famers, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will face off against each other for the second time. Kane has only registered one of his 29 points over the last five games, while Toews broke a three-game drought with an assist Thursday for his 19th point with Winnipeg.
–Field Level Media
