The Winnipeg Jets make their third stop of their season-long six-game road trip tonight in Anaheim, taking on the Ducks at Honda Center.Winnipeg faced the San Jose Sharks on Friday night at SAP Center. Josh Morrissey opened the scoring in the first period, but San Jose responded with two unanswered goals, including a late third-period game-winner from Will Smith, to edge the Jets 2-1 in regulation. Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves in Winnipeg’s second straight defeat.Anaheim, meanwhile, was in action last night in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights. The Ducks pulled off a 4-3 overtime win, with former Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba netting the game-winner, Leo Carlsson recording three points (2G, 1A), and Petr Mrazek stopping 36 shots.“They’re a young team. I don’t know if back-to-backs even faze some of those guys yet,” said Haydn Fleury when asked about the Ducks playing in the second half of a back-to-back. “Just be ready to play and be ready for a full 60. Be the suffocating team we can. Bring some energy.” (via WinnipegJets.com)
Tonight marks the first of three meetings between these teams this season. The Jets will face Anaheim again on Feb. 27 in Anaheim and March 10 in Winnipeg.
After being outscored 5-1 through the first two games of their road trip, their only goal coming from Morrissey, the Jets will look for their top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi to find their rhythm again against a Ducks team that’s been rolling to start the season.
Projected lineup (subject to change):
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Namestnikov – Toews – Iafallo
Niederreiter – Lowry – Chibrikov
Koepke – Ford – Pearson
Morrissey – DeMelo
Stanley – Pionk
Fleury – Schenn
Hellebuyck
Comrie
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Game time is set for 9:00 p.m. CST and you can watch on TSN3.