The Winnipeg Jets are trying to reverse what has been a nearly month-long slide, and that task won’t get any easier when they host the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.
Despite absorbing a 3-2 shootout loss to the visiting Hurricanes on Thursday night, the Capitals have earned points in nine straight games (7-0-2) to tie Carolina for points at the top of the Metropolitan Division.
Winnipeg, meanwhile, has lost three straight and nine of 11 (2-8-1) to fall out of the Western Conference playoff picture, at least for now.
The Jets’ latest defeat came at the hands of the visiting Boston Bruins 6-3 on Thursday night. After Winnipeg took a 1-0 lead, Boston scored three straight and held off a Jets rally.
Morgan Barron, Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi scored for the Jets. Eric Comrie made 18 saves.
“I think there’s been times where we’ve kind of started to feel like our game is going in the right direction, but it hasn’t been consistent enough,” Barron said. “And, obviously, it’s a results-based league, so you’ve got to find a way to kind of start winning these games.”
Barron ended a 19-game run without a goal, and Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor (assist) extended his point streak to seven games (four goals, six assists).
Special teams continue to be a problem for Winnipeg, which has given up power-play goals in seven straight games.
“I mean, tonight, special teams (was) a big part of it. I think, especially on the PK, we got to be better,” Barron said. “And then, you give up a few grade As.”
The Washington Capitals are dealing with a different problem. They are 17-9 in games decided in regulation, 1-0 in games that end in overtime, but 0-4 in shootouts, including Thursday’s loss to Carolina.
Washington went 0-for-3 in the shootout on Thursday, with Anthony Beauvillier, Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano unable to convert. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson stopped one of two shots.
For the season, the Capitals have converted just two of 15 shots (Strome and Beauvillier are each 1 for 4). Alex Ovechkin and Connor McMichael are 0-for-2, and several skaters have missed their only attempt.
“We’re probably going to try and utilize different guys, to be honest with you,” coach Spencer Carbery said after the game Thursday. “This is probably the last straw with the guys that we have. We’ll look at some different guys who’ll get some consideration.”
Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist for the Capitals versus Carolina. Thompson made 37 saves, and Nic Dowd energized the crowd twice in the third period with a fight and a goal that made it 2-1.
“He got the fans into it, he got all of us into it,” McMichael said of Dowd. “He made a few big plays after (the fight). He really carried us on his back in the third period.”
Washington defenseman John Carlson returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury, and the Capitals got more good news on the injury front Friday. Goalie Charlie Lindgren (upper-body injury) practiced and will travel with the team to Winnipeg and Minnesota.
–Field Level Media
