The Winnipeg Jets’ 13th game of the regular season is one that the team hopes will extend their win streak to four. On Saturday, the Jets will take on the Calgary Flames, who have lost seven in a row, four of which were on home ice. Let’s take a peek into what to expect when the first-in-their-division Jets take on the struggling Flames.
Winnipeg Jets Projected Lines:
Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Mason Appleton
Cole Perfetti – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Blake Wheeler
Saku Maenalanen – Adam Lowry – Axel Jonsson-Fjallby
Jansen Harkins – David Gustafsson – Sam Gagner
Defenseman
Josh Morrissey – Neal Pionk
Brenden Dillon – Nate Schmidt
Dylan Samberg – Dylan DeMelo
Starting Goalie
Connor Hellebuyck
Calgary Flames Projected Lines:
Forwards
Tyler Toffoli – Elias Lindholm – Adam Ruzicka
Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Trevor Lewis
Blake Coleman – Nazem Kadri – Dillon Dube
Milan Lucic – Kevin Rooney – Brett Ritchie
Defenseman
Rasmus Andersson – Noah Hanifin
MacKenzie Weegar – Nikita Zadorov
Nick DeSimone – Dennis Gilbert
Starting Goalie
Jacob Markstrom
Standout Storylines
Winnipeg Jets Claim First in Central Division
With Connor Hellebuyck in goal, combined with the level of play Jets skaters have been executing so far, it seems like the sky’s the limit for this team. They currently sit in first in the Central Division with 17 points in 12 games. In their recent 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks, Hellebuyck earned his 30th career shutout as he turned away 30 pucks that night.
The 29-year-old commented on his career milestone, saying, “It’s crazy. Let’s not stop at 30. How about that?”
While people have said the team has been too dependent on their goalie, the strategy is bringing them success so far. However, Hellebuyck cannot be the only one credited for their wins. Their star players have been living up to their roles on the team as well.
Josh Morrissey has 11 assists in 12 games (the most on the roster), Mark Scheifele scored two goals in the team’s last game against the Dallas Stars, Kyle Connor has 10 points in 12 games, and Pierre-Luc Dubois has put up six goals and five assists while scoring in three games straight.
After the Jets’ win against the Stars, coach Rick Bowness said, “We had a lot of great opportunities offensively from playing good defense and moving the puck quick. It’s starting to sink in. There’s always room for improvement. We’ve got a long way to go and still have lots of work ahead of us, but we’re getting there.”
Related: 5 Takeaways from Jets’ Perfect 3-Game Homestand
Hopefully, the Jets can continue to play well and keep that number-one spot as the season goes on. After all, we are still early on in the season, and consistency is key if you want to bring home the cup.
Calgary Flames Extend Losing Streak to Seven
The Flames started the season off true to their name — on fire. With five wins in their first six games, it was the team’s best start to the season in franchise history. But ever since, their spark has fizzled out.
The Flames have lacked offense, forcing coach Darryl Sutter to shuffle lines to try to get some action going. Sutter even commented on the team’s lack of depth ahead of their matchup against the New Jersey Devils, saying, “We’ve got guys, what did we play them last night, 23 to 27 [minutes]? That means those guys are doing everything they can, and this depth stuff we talked about in the summer, it’s a bunch of bulls–t.”
Sutter is referencing the Flames’ recent 4-3 overtime loss against the New York Islanders. In that game, the team had four defenseman play more than 23 minutes each. Rasmus Andersson spent the most time on the ice, playing 26 minutes.
On Thursday night, the team extended their losing streak to seven games after falling 3-1 to the Boston Bruins. Their losing stint has to end at some point, but only time will tell if it will be against the Jets on Saturday.
Players to Watch
Winnipeg Jets – Josh Morrissey
Alternate captain Josh Morrissey is living up to his ‘A’ crest this season. The 13th overall draft pick has the most points on the roster with 12 points in 12 games; Dubois falls shortly behind with 11. Morrissey has 11 assists and one goal, earning five points in his last five games. This season could easily end up being one of the defenseman’s best of his career so far.
Calgary Flames – Nazem Kadri
After signing a seven-year deal with the Flames, Nazem Kadri has been a key player on their roster. The former Colorado Avalanche has earned 12 points in 13 games with seven goals and five assists. He has also scored two goals in the team’s last five games.
As a Stanley Cup Winner, Kadri definitely has experienced the ins and outs of a hockey season. He brings grit and skill to the ice — two assets that are never bad additions to a team. Keep an eye on him, as he can be a real difference-maker at the rink.
Will the Jets extend their win streak, or will the Flames finally find their footing? Tune in Saturday night at 10 PM EST to find out!
Who do you think will win this game? Let me know in the comments below!
