Every game counts the same in the standings, but some matchups stand out more than others to the players involved.
Take Monday night’s contest between the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets in Saint Paul, Minn. The game between the top two teams in the Western Conference provides an early measuring stick for players as well as fans.
“It’s a chance to showcase yourself against the best,” Wild forward Marcus Foligno said.
Winnipeg enters the game with an NHL-best 34 points. The Jets have won 17 of their first 21 games, and they have outscored opponents 85-51 this season.
After winning back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins, the Jets lost 4-1 on the road against the Nashville Predators in their most recent contest. They will try to avoid suffering back-to-back losses for only the second time this season.
The task for the Jets will be more difficult because of the injury absence of defenseman Dylan Samberg, who broke his foot in the loss against Nashville. Samberg was placed on injured reserve and is out indefinitely.
The 25-year-old is averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game this season. He has six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-12 rating in 21 games.
“He does so much for us,” teammate Dylan DeMelo told the Winnipeg Free Press. “Not just shot blocking, but having a good stick and breaking up a lot of plays.”
Jets captain Adam Lowry agreed.
“It would be a big loss if he’s out for any length of time,” he said.
Minnesota also is dealing with injuries to key players.
The Wild will be without forward Mats Zuccarello, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury after being hit by an opponent’s shot. The same could be true for top scorer Kirill Kaprizov, who sustained a lower-body injury after absorbing a knee-on-knee hit against Edmonton Oilers forward Drake Caggiula on Thursday.
Kaprizov reportedly avoided a significant injury, but he missed Minnesota’s game Saturday against the Calgary Flames and his status for Monday is unclear. He leads the team and ranks second in the NHL with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 19 games this season.
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is expected to get the start in net. He is 14-2-0 with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
In 28 career games (27 starts) against Minnesota, Hellebuyck is 13-10-2 with a 2.64 GAA and a .916 save percentage.
The Wild are expected to counter with Filip Gustavsson in net. He is 9-3-3 with a 2.13 GAA and a .924 save percentage.
Gustavsson has faced Winnipeg six times in his career. He is 4-1-1 in those matchups with a 1.76 GAA and a .943 save percentage.
Wild coach John Hynes praised his team heading into Monday’s matchup.
“I just like our demeanor,” Hynes said, per the Star Tribune. “Our focus is there. It’s what’s next, what we can control, keeping our energy and mindset in the right place. That’s what ultimately gives you the opportunity to be successful.”
Minnesota is 4-2-1 at home this season. Winnipeg is 8-3-0 on the road.
–Field Level Media
