The Winnipeg Jets will host the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night with both teams eyeing a Stanley Cup run.
The Jets are riding high on a six-game winning streak, including a statement 5-4 overtime victory at the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals on Saturday. Since a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Jan. 20, head coach Scott Arniel’s squad has outscored its opponents 28-13 in the last six games.
“At the end of the day, we’re all winners in here. We all have that competitive drive to win every game,” Winnipeg forward Gabriel Vilardi said. “Obviously, some nights you have it more than others dependent on travel, sleep and whatnot, but we have a winner’s mindset, and I think that’s huge going down the stretch.”
The Jets’ success has come amid a busy portion of their schedule — Tuesday will mark the team’s 11th game in 22 days. Winnipeg will get a break soon, though, as the Jets have two games before the league pauses for two weeks during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“We’ve done a good job. We’re ahead of teams when it comes to games played, and we’ve won those, which is a bonus,” Arniel said. “Carolina coming in here… so it’ll be a good test for us, so hopefully we can finish off on a good note.”
The Hurricanes are still adjusting to life with their two new high-profile acquisitions.
Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall were brought in to bolster Carolina’s lineup in the team’s bid to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006, but the Hurricanes have gone just 2-1-1 since the trade. Rantanen has a goal and an assist, while Hall also has an assist but is still hunting his first goal for Carolina.
The Hurricanes will try to improve their defense following Saturday’s 4-2 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
“I didn’t love the goals we gave,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Watch them. Can’t happen. Not in the NHL. Not against good teams, give them breakaways and 2-on-1s out of nothing. That’s a big concern.”
Tuesday’s matchup in Winnipeg will serve as a major test for the Hurricanes, who have won six of their last eight games (6-1-1). Facing one of the league’s hottest teams will provide a clear gauge of how well Carolina’s new acquisitions are adapting, and offer Rantanen and Hall an opportunity to further settle into their new roles.
“We’re four games in with (Rantanen) now, and I feel like we’re building that chemistry a little bit,” Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake said. “… We’ve got to find a way. I think Rod expects us to pot some and we’ve got to find the net.”
On the injury front, Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov was a full participant at Monday’s practice, but the winger is still considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Tuesday is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They’ll reconvene on March 9 in Raleigh, N.C.
–Field Level Media
