Game Day: Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild
After a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night, the Winnipeg Jets look to close out their three-game homestand with at least two wins as they host the Minnesota Wild for their annual Hockey Fights Cancer game at Canada Life Centre.
Winnipeg’s slow start and shaky second period ultimately cost them against Carolina. The Jets surrendered the opening goal just 16 seconds into the game and managed only four shots on net in the middle frame, giving up two goals, including a shorthanded marker, during the middle frame. Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and Josh Morrissey added another in the loss, while Eric Comrie, now the temporary starter with Connor Hellebuyck sidelined, turned aside 24 shots.
The Wild, meanwhile, have been playing outstanding hockey throughout November. They’re 8-1-1 this month and are coming off a dominant 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, extending their point streak to seven games. Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov, and Joel Eriksson Ek combined for seven points, and Filip Gustavsson recorded a 19-save shutout. Much of Minnesota’s recent surge has been fueled by the stellar play of young goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who owns a 5-0-2 record with two shutouts and a .926 save percentage (SV%).
These two clubs last met at the end of October in St. Paul, when Kyle Connor buried the overtime winner to lift the Jets to a 4-3 victory. They’ll meet two more times after today: Dec. 27 in Winnipeg and Jan. 15 in St. Paul, to wrap up the season series.
Projected lineup (subject to change):
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Namestnikov – Toews – Perfetti
Niederreiter – Lowry – Iafallo
Koepke – Barron – Nyquist
Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Schenn
Comrie
Milic
Up next:
Puck drop is at 3:00 p.m. CST on TSN3.