CALGARY vs WINNIPEG
When: 2/1/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: WINNIPEG , CALGARY

Oddsmakers currently have the CALGARY listed as -115-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

Jacob Markstrom’s 37-save shutout performance in a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday is exactly what the Calgary Flames were looking for when they signed him via free agency.

The Flames, who snapped a three-game losing skid with the win, are looking for more of the same when they visit the Winnipeg Jets on Monday in the first of three meetings in four nights in Winnipeg.

The Flames have struggled to find a true No. 1 goalie since Miikka Kiprusoff’s scintillating performances before he retired after the 2012-13 season, and that’s why Markstrom was lured with a six-year, $36-million contract. He rewarded them with a brilliant performance in Montreal.

“When your goalie plays like that, you’re not going to lose. Ever,” said captain Mark Giordano. “Obviously, we’ve been on a little bit of a slide here. Guys were blocking shots and we were invested emotionally, and he was our backbone out there. We’ll take those goaltending performances whenever we can get them.”

Goals by Johnny Gaudreau — who has a point in every game this season giving him a seven-game point-scoring streak — and Mikael Backlund provided the offensive attack, but unquestionably Markstrom was the difference.

“When the shots were coming, I was seeing the puck,” said Markstrom, who recorded his second shutout of the season and celebrated his 31st birthday on Sunday. “When I didn’t, our guys were blocking shots and clearing rebounds. That was a big win for us to come back here after some games where we haven’t been happy and satisfied with the results. It’s a big win for us and something we can build on.”

The Jets, who have lost two of three games, will be looking to rebound after Saturday night’s disappointing 4-1 home loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Coach Paul Maurice made no bones about why his team — which is yet to have newly acquired young center Pierre-Luc Dubois in the lineup as he goes through the quarantine protocol — was defeated.

“Those were our poorest back-to-back periods that we’ve had this year,” said Maurice, who obviously expects a better effort against the Flames. “The only hard lesson in that one is the team that worked the hardest won. They deserved to win that hockey game. We got beat is the cleanest way to put it.”

Among the issues was Winnipeg’s lack of offensive execution. The Jets managed only 11 shots on goal over the final two periods. Having had four days between games, the Jets should have been rested and ready but instead struggled to find any momentum.

“We were a little disjointed again and we’re getting away from some of the things that gave us success,” said captain Blake Wheeler. “We’re going to have a few more of these long breaks this year. We have to learn how to come out of them.”

The poor play after a rest isn’t the only issue facing Wheeler and his line. In eight games, the Jets have surrendered 15 goals during five-on-five play, and Wheeler has been on the ice for 10 of them. It’s not a good sign when your top line is being outplayed by the opposition’s big guns.

“We’ve got some guys on our back end that can be a part of that, too,” Maurice said. “I don’t feel that they’re cheating the defensive game to go on offence. As a line since they’ve been together, they had stretches of pretty good hockey offensively, but their defensive game hasn’t been great, yet.”

On the flip side for Winnipeg is the point-scoring run for third-line center Adam Lowry, who has found the scoresheet in a career-best six consecutive games.

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VANCOUVER vs WINNIPEG
When: 1/30/2021 10:00 PM
Where:

TV: 10:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: WINNIPEG , VANCOUVER

Oddsmakers currently have the VANCOUVER listed as 115-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

Since Andrew Copp joined the Winnipeg Jets’ second line with Paul Statsny and Nikolaj Ehlers, it has soared.

The trio has combined for 20 points over the past three games, including 10 in a 6-4 victory against the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

The Jets will continue their seven-game homestand Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I’m in no hurry to break that up because of the way Stastny’s line has played,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “The flip to put Andrew Copp on that (Stastny) line was to add some defensive stability to it and then it took off.”

Copp had a four-point game with two goals and two assists and has a five-game point streak, both career highs.

“I feel like I’ve expanded my game,” Copp said. “I haven’t tried to change it too much but I’ve tried to increase my offensive output, make a few more plays, be a little more crisp, and execute. It came to fruition (Tuesday).”

Ehlers also had a four-point night.

“Playing with Stas and Copper right now, they’re amazing players. They’re making it so much easier for me to use my speed,” said Ehlers, whose 11 points this season are among the league leaders.

“They’re in the right places all the time. They’re two fantastic players and we’re able to use our strengths as much as possible in helping each other out. We want to try and continue doing that, of course, and get better.”

The trio combined for three of Winnipeg’s four third-period goals Tuesday as the Jets rallied from a 3-2 deficit entering the final stanza.

“Stas is so consistent, he’s so smart, and he goes to the right areas all the time. Nik is doing that and using his speed and being dynamic too,” Copp said. “When we’ve got into the areas, we’ve gone to the net hard, we’ve put the puck in the net on our opportunities. We’ve been able to change some games for us.

“It builds confidence. Having some of the success we’ve had as a line, and I’ve had individually, it builds confidence. It reinforces that I’m doing the right things. It’s an ongoing process in an ongoing game. But it definitely builds confidence that I’m doing the right things to get better for game time.”

The Canucks are coming off a three-game sweep of Ottawa in which they outscored the visiting Senators 16-3.

Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, Elias Pettersson added a goal and an assist and Quinn Hughes had two helpers for the Canucks in a 4-1 victory Thursday. Braden Holtby made 36 saves and also set up a goal.

The Canucks had lost five of their previous six games entering the series.

“The three games here were really big just to get things back on track before things really slide,” Hughes said. “I think our team has a high standard and everyone wants to win, so we can get down on each other fast, but we pick each other up and to win this series is a good step in the right direction.”

Added Boeser: “It was a three-game set that we needed to reset.”

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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS vs WINNIPEG JETS
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: WINNIPEG , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 200-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Winnipeg Jets have won five of their previous six games entering Tuesday’s home contest with the Chicago Blackhawks but are not satisfied with some aspects of their game, even after a 7-1 blowout of Philadelphia on Sunday. The Jets spent Monday talking about the need for better starts after the Flyers outshot Winnipeg 10-1 in the opening minutes of the first period, requiring goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to record several difficult saves before the offense got on track.

“If we play a really good team, they’re not going to give us any easy goals,” Jets forward Patrik Laine told reporters after Monday’s practice, one day after seven Winnipeg players (none named Laine, whose 21 goals entering the week ranked tied for second in the NHL) scored in the Philadelphia victory. “We have to be ready from the start.” The Blackhawks gave up the game-winning goal with 1:17 left in Saturday’s 3-2 home loss to Montreal, extending Chicago’s losing streak to seven. Patrick Kane scored twice in the defeat as the Blackhawks lost for the ninth time in 10 games overall and dropped into a tie with Los Angeles for fewest points in the NHL (23). “Kind of the same old story thought,” Kane told the media after Saturday’s defeat. “We got behind and find ourselves back into the game and find a way to lose it late. Another tough loss.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (9-17-5): Kane scored only twice in his previous 18 games before recording his two goals Saturday, extending his points streak to three games (four points). Defenseman Connor Murphy, sidelined all season with a back injury, finished with four shots on goal and three hits in 16:46 of ice time in his debut Saturday. Goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 25 shots Saturday but fell to 2-13-1 in his past 16 games, and has surrendered four or more goals nine times in that span.

ABOUT THE JETS (18-9-2): The recipe has been pretty simple for Winnipeg during this hot streak that has lifted the Jets within two points of the Western Conference’s top spot: An offense that’s scored four goals or more four times in six games, and strong play from Hellebuyck. After a sluggish start to the season, Hellebuyck is 4-1-0 with a .923 save percentage in his past five games. Offensively, forward Blake Wheeler (32 assists, 37 points) and center Mark Scheifele (16 goals, 35 points) continue helping lead the NHL’s sixth highest-scoring offense (3.45 goals per game).

OVERTIME

1. The Blackhawks have allowed the first goal in 10 consecutive games, and have scored on the power play in only two of their past 10 contests (going 1-for-8 Saturday).

2. Winnipeg F Mathieu Perreault did not practice Monday and will be a game-time decision after leaving in the third period Sunday following a big hit by Philadelphia’s Dale Weise.

3. Chicago F Artem Anisimov remains in concussion protocol after leaving Saturday’s game with 1:03 to play and will not travel to Winnipeg.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Blackhawks 3

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ST LOUIS vs WINNIPEG
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Friday, December 7, 2018
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: WINNIPEG , ST LOUIS

Oddsmakers currently have the ST LOUIS listed as 175-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Winnipeg Jets return home Friday to face the St. Louis Blues after a successful road trip that pushed their winning streak to a season-high four games. The Jets swept a three-game swing through New Jersey and New York despite missing several key defensemen because of injuries, finishing the trip with back-to-back goals from Jacob Trouba and Adam Lowry early in the third period of Tuesday’s 3-1 victory at the Islanders – Winnipeg’s fifth victory in six games.

“We believe in our system and when you believe in something, good things start to come,” Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck told reporters after Tuesday’s game. “It’s huge to get all six points on the three games here. A key for your season.” The Blues are seeking a similar hot streak as losses in seven of their past nine games have sank St. Louis into the Central Division cellar. The struggle continued with Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout loss at home to Edmonton with a 2-0 lead evaporating as the Blues blew a two-goal lead for the fourth time this season. “We just stopped making plays,” St. Louis interim coach Craig Berube told the media afterward. “When you stop making plays, you get the puck out and they just pound it back in and that’s their game.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NHL Network; FS Midwest (St. Louis), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE BLUES (9-13-4): Center Ryan O’Reilly did not register a point Wednesday for only the second time in six games, but leads St. Louis in goals (12) and assists (16). Goaltender Jake Allen stopped 34-of-36 shots against the Oilers but suffered his third loss in his past four games, and has surrendered 10 goals in that span. St. Louis was ranked sixth in the NHL in penalty kill (82.8 percent), but is allowing 3.35 goals per game (24th in the league entering Thursday).

ABOUT THE JETS (17-8-2): Hellebuyck has shaken off a brief slump, winning his past three starts and making 27 saves Tuesday. Forward Patrik Laine entered Thursday leading the NHL in goals (21), five of those coming in a road victory over the Blues on Nov. 24. Forward Nikolaj Ehlers has four goals in his past four games, helping support a defense corps that featured three players Tuesday who started the season in the AHL (Cam Schilling, Nelson Nogier, Sami Niku).

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis F Jaden Schwartz (upper body), F Alexander Steen (concussion) and D Carl Gunnarsson (upper body) took part in Thursday’s morning skate, but are listed as day-to-day.

2. Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters Thursday that D Dustin Byfuglien (concussion), D Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), D Josh Morrissey (lower body) and F Andrew Copp (concussion) could return Friday.

3. The Blues have allowed four goals or more in four of their past five losses, including eight in last month’s setback to Winnipeg.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Blues 2

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WINNIPEG JETS vs NY RANGERS
When: 6:00 PM  ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

TV: 6:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: NY RANGERS , WINNIPEG

Oddsmakers currently have the WINNIPEG listed as -150-moneyline favorites versus the NY RANGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Winnipeg Jets continue their three-game trip through the greater New York City area when they visit the Rangers on Sunday. Winnipeg improved to 4-1-0 versus the Metropolitan Division after blowing a two-goal lead in the third period before defeating New Jersey 4-3 in overtime Saturday for its third victory in four games, and plays the Islanders in Brooklyn on Tuesday before heading home for four games.

Jets right wing Patrick Laine, who scored 18 goals in November and leads the NHL with 21, was kept off the scoresheet Saturday for the second time in three games. New York lost for the fourth time in five contests with a 5-2 setback at Montreal on Saturday as the memory of a 9-1-1 stretch continues to fade. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be in goal for the Rangers after backup Alexandar Georgiev made 36 saves Saturday and will likely oppose Connor Hellebuyck since backup Laurent Brossoit stopped 36 shots versus the Devils. Winnipeg and New York split last season’s two-game series with the road team winning each time as the Jets prevailed 3-0 at Madison Square Garden on the strength of Laine’s hat trick.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE JETS (15-8-2): Mark Scheifele scored twice against New Jersey, including the winner when he stole the puck from Nico Hischier just inside the blueline and stuffed his own rebound past Keith Kinkaid for his 15th of the season. Scheifele’s third consecutive multi-point performance (four goals, three assists) moved him to within two points of Blake Wheeler (33 points), who recorded his 29th assist Saturday, for the team lead. Mason Appleton, the 168th overall pick in the 2015 draft, recorded an assist Saturday in his first NHL game after collecting 84 points (30 goals) in 95 games with AHL Manitoba this season and last.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (13-12-2): Mika Zibanejad recorded two assists Saturday to take over the team lead with 23 points and has recorded a goal and five assists in his last six games. Chris Kreider (team-high 13 goals, 21 points) has one point in his last five games while Jimmy Vesey scored versus Montreal, giving him two goals in the last four contests and moving him to second on the team with nine. Mats Zuccarello missed his fourth straight game Saturday with a groin injury while Vladislav Namestnikov has missed the last two because of a concussion.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg was the only team in the league with both special teams in the top eight entering Saturday as the power play was No. 3 and the penalty-killing unit eighth.

2. New York scored on the power play Saturday and is 1-for-11 in its last five games while its penalty killers allowed a goal for the first time in six contests (8-for-9).

3. The Jets’ blueline continues to perform without Joe Morrow (lower body), Dustin Byfuglien (concussion) and Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), although Morrow could return soon.

PREDICTION: Jets 3, Rangers 2

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BUFFALO SABRES vs WINNIPEG JETS
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Friday, November 16, 2018
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: WINNIPEG , BUFFALO

Oddsmakers currently have the BUFFALO listed as 180-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

It is far too early for the Buffalo Sabres to start thinking about the spring, but for a franchise that has missed the playoffs seven consecutive seasons a three-game winning streak and a 10-6-2 record is reason for optimism entering Friday’s road contest against the Winnipeg Jets. Buffalo begins a three-game road trip that features back-to-back contests versus the Jets and Minnesota this weekend, but following Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Tampa Bay the Sabres noted something feels different.

“I don’t think we played our best game (Tuesday) night, but we found a way to win and that’s what good teams do,” Buffalo defenseman Zach Bogosian told reporters Wednesday. “We try not to dwell on the past, but maybe that one wouldn’t have happened in the past.” The Jets finally are playing at the level many expected of last season’s Western Conference finalist as Winnipeg has won three in a row and eight of its past 11 games following Wednesday’s 3-1 triumph over defending Stanley Cup champion Washington. Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding in winning his third consecutive start, making 27 saves against Washington’s high-powered offense and holding Alex Ovechkin off the scoresheet. “(Wednesday) definitely was a big one for us,” Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele told the media after the Jets improved to 8-2-1 at home this season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG Buffalo, TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE SABRES (10-6-2): Center Jeff Skinner scored his 13th goal of the season Tuesday and has seven tallies to go along with one assist in his past six games – moving within one point of 400 for his career. San Reinhart earned an assist on Skinner’s goal, his sixth assist in his past five games as the Sabres improved to 9-0-0 when he registers at least one point. Carter Hutton stopped 29-of-30 shots on goal and in his past three appearances has posted a .946 save percentage.

ABOUT THE JETS (11-5-1): Forward Blake Wheeler extended his point streak to 11 games with an assist Wednesday, and has 18 assists with a plus-8 rating during that stretch. Winnipeg entered Thursday leading the NHL in power-play percentage (34 percent) and Scheifele’s marker with the man advantage Wednesday gave him eight goals and 16 points in his past 10 games. The Jets have scored on the power play in 14 of their 17 games this season and 12 of their past 13 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg G Laurent Brossoit, who is 3-0-0 but has not played since Oct. 26, is expected to start Friday.

2. The Sabres early-season success will be tested with six games in the next nine days, including a visit to Pittsburgh on Monday after the weekend back-to-back.

3. Buffalo seeks its first four-game winning streak since Dec. 9-15, 2014.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Sabres 3

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OTTAWA vs WINNIPEG
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Sunday, December 3, 2017
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVA (Ottawa), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: Jets 5, Senators 2

Oddsmakers currently have the OTTAWA listed as 150-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The last time the Winnipeg Jets were in first place a third of the way through the season, their leading scorers were Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg, and they played in the World Hockey Association.

That was 1977-78, nearly two years before the WHA was merged into the NHL, but there are a number of similarities between the two eras, even though they’re 40 years apart.

Both versions play an entertaining brand of hockey based on puck possession, speed and a devastating power play.

There’s one more element that the WHA Jets had that year that the current Jets hope to copy, even though they’re not saying it publicly — a championship. (The AVCO Cup was the WHA’s holy grail and the Jets won it three times.)

After defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 7-4 on Friday night, the Jets climbed atop the mountain in the Western Division with a record of 16-6-4 and 36 points, one point up on the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings. Winnipeg hosts the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night.

The Jets are 8-0-1 in their last nine at home, but as former coach Claude Noel used to say, the players aren’t dislocating their shoulders patting themselves on the back.

Captain Blake Wheeler attributed the team’s success to not looking too far ahead and dealing with what’s in front of them.

“We’ve used each day of practice to get better, we’ve used each game to try and improve in certain areas,” Wheeler told the Winnipeg Free Press. “I don’t think that we’ve peaked. I think we have a ways to go.

“Our team, we’re learning how to play fast and kind of on the fly, and I think we can play faster. With the way the league is going, that’s an exciting thing. We’re enjoying winning, which is kind of new to our group, but we’re not fitting ourselves for rings or anything like that.”

The Senators come to town on the heels of a 6-5 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night in Brooklyn — a victory that improved their record to 9-9-6 and halted a seven-game losing streak (0-6-1).

But that’s not what was dominating social media circles Saturday. Instead, it was captain Erik Karlsson’s remarks to reporters Thursday that he won’t take a discount to stay with the only NHL club he has ever known — the Senators drafted him in 2008 — when his contract is up at the end of next season.

“When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going,” Karlsson told The Ottawa Citizen.

“That’s the business part of it. That’s the way every player has been treated ever since this league has started, and I think the players have been a little bit on the other side of things when it comes to negotiations. I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just (owners).”

STATS AND RECORDS

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WINNIPEG vs VANCOUVER
When: 10:00 PM  ET, Thursday, October 12, 2017
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), Sportsnet Vancouver
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: Jets 4, Canucks 2

Oddsmakers currently have the WINNIPEG listed as -130-moneyline favorites versus the VANCOUVER, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Connor Hellebuyck is supposed to be a backup goaltender, but he is not playing like one.

Hellebuyck will make his second straight start Thursday as the Winnipeg Jets (1-2-0) visit the Vancouver Canucks (1-0-1) at Rogers Arena.

“It means a lot, but I’ve gotta be ready,” Hellebuyck said of his second start after Wednesday’s practice. “I’ve gotta bring my A game.”

Jets management did not feel that Hellebuyck brought his A game often enough last season as the starter, so the club signed 10-year veteran Steve Mason as a free agent July 1.

OVERTIME

1. The Canucks are 1-for-11 on the power play.

2. Scheifele, who finished seventh in the league in scoring last season, has five points in three games.

3. Canucks F Thomas Vanek, who scored against Ottawa, has 21 goals and 32 points in 41 contests versus Winnipeg.

But Mason, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, allowed three goals on the first 10 shots he faced as a Jet in their season opener at home against Toronto — and was yanked early in the third period after giving up five in all.

Hellebuyck earned the start against Vancouver start after backstopping the Jets to a 5-2 win over the offensively explosive Oilers in Edmonton on Monday. But he is not putting too much stock in his 37-save effort against Connor McDavid and company.

“It’s just one game,” Hellebuyck said. “I see this as another chance for me to just go out there and continue showing what I can do, bringing my best and helping the team succeed.”

Big things have been expected of the Jets in recent seasons, but they have missed the playoffs in three of the past four years. The goaltender position will come under heavy scrutiny this season tries to live up to expectations.

After the Jets signed Mason, Hellebuyck, a 24-year-old Commerce, Mich., native, embarked on an intense offseason conditioning program. Although Hellebuyck declined to get into specifics about his program, he indicated that improvements in his biomechanics have helped him move quicker and feel better about his game.

“Just every day in practice, I feel like myself again,” said Hellebuyck, who went 26-19-4 last season. “I feel good and I feel confident. I can actually go out and play. I have the right foundation and I just need to continue working hard at it.”

Jets coach Paul Maurice said Hellebuyck has earned another start.

“I really liked his game (in Edmonton),” Maurice said. “It was good to get a win.”

Maurice downplayed his decision to sit Mason out again.

“It’s early in the season,” Maurice said. “We got off to a rocky start as a team (against Toronto), and we had a really good performance the other night. So I’m going with the same lineup — that’s all.”

Top defenseman Dustin Byfuglien will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Maurice said Byfuglien, who is with the team, is listed as day-to-day.

While the Jets goaltending might have questions, there is no doubt about their offensive firepower. The Canucks will attempt to hold the likes of Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Blake Wheeler and Patrick Laine, among others, in check.

Ehlers had eight shots against the Oilers while producing four points. Scheifele and Wheeler had three points apiece.

“We know they have some highly skilled players, guys who can shoot the puck, guys who can play,” Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev said. “We will have to stay out of the (penalty) box against them. They have a good power play.”

As they pay close attention to defense, the Canucks will try to produce more offense. They have only managed one power-play goal on 11 extra-man chances thus far.

“It’s just (a matter of) execution, I feel,” Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said. “Somehow it feels good. We can create off the rush. It’s just that last play needs to be made.”

It remains to be seen how many games Henrik and his twin brother Daniel, two former NHL scoring champions, get to make during man-advantage opportunities and five-on-five.

Without making much of an announcement on the subject, new coach Travis Green has started limiting their ice time in an apparent attempt to keep the 36-year-olds fresh over the long haul.

“I think that’s what you’re going to see this season,” Henrik said. “There’s going to be different guys on the power play, different guys playing more minutes, guys in and out of the lineup. If you buy in, there isn’t going to be a problem.

“There are going to be lots of stories. Maybe that’s good for you guys, but that’s the way it is. We knew this was the way it was going to be.”

In past seasons, the Sedins have received the majority of playing time on most nights. But several other players received more minutes against the Senators.

“It’s a different feeling for us, but we know what’s going to happen,” Henrik said. “We’re going to get some power play time and we need to step up five-on-five.”

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Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS (Montreal), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Jets 3

Oddsmakers currently have the MONTREAL listed as -110-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Winnipeg Jets are hoping they can continue scoring by committee until their top sniper returns to the line-up.

The Jets used goals by defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and right winger Blake Wheeler to defeat the Calgary Flames 2-0 at the MTS Centre on Monday night, but other players are hoping to step up into the void left by Patrik Laine’s concussion when they challenge the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old rookie, who has 21 goals this season, has been off the ice since being rocked by an open-ice hit from Buffalo’s Jake McCabe on the weekend.

Drew Stafford, who moved up from the fourth line into Laine’s spot alongside left winger Nik Ehlers and center Mark Scheifele, is planning to carry at least his share of the load. The Milwaukee native scored 21 for the Jets last year and notched 31 in the 2010-11 season. He has bulged the twine just three times this season, although he did miss 15 games due to injury.

“This is something I’ve been doing my whole career,” the 31-year-old told the Winnipeg Free Press. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity and will do my best to help this team in whatever way I can and contribute and help win games. If that’s playing there and hopefully providing some offence, it’s something I look forward to and relish the opportunity.”

Stafford assisted on Byfuglien’s goal on Monday night.

Even though Laine wasn’t on the ice yesterday, he did generate some headlines with news that he has been selected to play in the NHL all-star game later this month in Los Angeles. The Jets have not set any timetable for his return but he has been spotted in civvies and smiling during practices. He watched the Calgary game from the press box with his girlfriend.

The Canadiens canceled practice Tuesday morning following their 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals the night before. The Habs will be well-represented in Los Angeles with coach Michel Therrien, defenseman Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price selected for the mid-season festivities.

The netminder, who backstopped Canada to victory in the World Cup in the fall and the 2014 Olympics, hasn’t displayed his all-world form lately, allowing three or more goals in five of his last six starts.

The Canadiens have a 1-2-2 record in those five games and while his overall record remains stellar at 20-6-4, he is ranked fifth in the NHL in save percentage (.928) and sixth in goals-against average (2.12).

Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Price wouldn’t set the hockey world on fire this year considering he missed almost all of last season with a serious knee injury.

The Habs were tearing up the league when Price went down in late November immediately went into free-fall, missing the playoffs.

Therrien said even if Price doesn’t play out of his mind this year, he expects his troops to be better equipped to weather any storms.

“Big difference (from last year),” the coach told the Montreal Gazette. “First of all, I’ll say the leadership group is doing a fantastic job. Kids are coming into a really different atmosphere. The team spirit has been great since Day 1 and the leadership group is doing a fantastic job.”

The Canadiens will fly out immediately after Wednesday’s game in advance of meeting the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. It’s expected Al Montoya, who played two seasons with the Jets from 2012-14, will start one of those games.

The post Montreal vs Winnipeg Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Florida Panthers
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet Pacific (Winnipeg), FSN Florida
PREDICTION: Jets 4, Panthers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the Panthers listed as 165-moneyline favorites versus the Jets, while the game’s total is sitting at 5½.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Too bad Aleksander Barkov and Patrik Laine won’t be able to meet on the ice Wednesday night at the BB&T Center.

Both are big, talented and young forwards from Tampere, Finland. Both were the No. 2 overall selections in recent NHL drafts — Barkov to the Florida Panthers in 2013 and Laine to the Winnipeg Jets in 2016.

But when the Jets (18-19-3) visit the Panthers (16-14-8) on Wednesday, Barkov is expected to miss the game due to a lower body injury.

During last fall’s World Cup of Hockey 2016 at Toronto, Barkov, 21, played on a Finnish line with Laine, 18, and Sebastian Aho, 19.

Barkov, who is almost always the youngest player on his Panthers line that also includes 44-year-old legend Jaromir Jagr, said it felt odd to play with two younger guys in the World Cup.

“I usually play with Jagr, and he’s 65-year-old,” Barkov joked as he met with the media in Toronto this past September. “It was weird. I was the oldest guy on the line, and I’m only 21.”

Barkov, who suffered an unspecified injury on Dec. 28 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, set career highs last season in goals (28), assists (31) and points (59) in 66 games.

This season, he has nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 36 games, establishing himself as one of the league’s best two-way centers.

Laine, pronounced Lie-nay, has already earned a reputation for one of the hardest shots in hockey.

“I’ve never seen a guy shoot the puck like that,” Jets veteran coach Paul Maurice told the media recently.

Among NHL rookies this season, Laine is tied for the lead with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs in terms of most goals (20), assists (14) and points (34).

Laine is part of an impressive list of players drafted No. 1 or No. 2 overall in the past four years, including Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Matthews, Barkov, Nathan Mackinnon, Sam Reinhart and Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Already this season, Laine has two hat tricks — in his fourth NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and again in Game No. 14 against the Dallas Stars. Both of those performances were home games for Winnipeg.

Laine, though, hasn’t been able to do much to help a defense that ranks 27th in the NHL in killing penalties and 29th in number of goals allowed.

The defense was not very good again on Tuesday night but the Jets managed to outscore the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4.

Laine had one goal and two assists against Tampa Bay as his confidence continues to grow.

“I’ve seen that I can play in this league,” Laine told the media. “I’ve seen that I can play against the best in the world. My teammates agree with me, and that is the most important thing for me.”

Laine, locked in a battle with McDavid for NHL Rookie of the Year honors, is an intense athlete who is not happy at all whenever he doesn’t score.

Imagine his mood when he got off to a slow start in the exhibition season, but he has been rolling ever since.

“It’s a dream come true to be in the NHL,” Laine told The Chicago Tribune recently. “I want to show everyone that I’m a good player. Hopefully I can be the best one day.”

Other story lines for Wednesday’s game:

= Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo is expected to get the start and if so will attempt for the third time to get win No. 448, which would put him in fifth place in the all-time NHL list.

= Going against a trend, Winnipeg outscored Tampa Bay 3-1 in the second period on Sunday. Prior to that, the Jets had outscored opponents 52-25 in the second period.

= The Jets beat the Panthers 4-3 in a shootout on Dec. 15 Bryan Little scored the tying goal and then scored again in the shootout to lead Winnipeg.

= Jets defenseman Tyler Myers is nearing a return. He has missed 24 games this season due to a lower-body injury. However, he had a light on-ice workout on Tuesday.

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