The Winnipeg Jets open a three-game road trip in Detroit, Michigan against the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena tonight, hoping for two things: to end their six-game winless streak and to climb out of last place in the NHL standings, who would’ve seen that coming?Winnipeg’s sixth straight defeat came Monday night at Canada Life Centre in a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets generated plenty of scoring chances, but Winnipeg native Calvin Pickard turned aside 41 shots. Adam Lowry ended his 17-game scoreless drought with his second goal of the season to get the Jets on the board in the third period, while Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves. Winnipeg fell to 18-15-4 and now sits last in the league.
The Red Wings sit first in the Atlantic Division and are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over Original Six rival Toronto on Sunday night. Moritz Seider scored his seventh of the season, former Jet Mason Appleton added his fourth, and Simon Edvinsson was the overtime hero with his fifth. Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots in Detroit’s seventh win in its last 10 games.
It won’t get much easier for the Jets, who have been stuck in a slump that feels like an eternity, and Detroit coming in with two days of rest certainly doesn’t help.
These clubs will meet once more on Jan. 24 in Winnipeg for WASAC Night.
Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey is set to play in his 700th career game tonight.
It’s also the first half of a back-to-back for Winnipeg, so Eric Comrie is expected to get the start tomorrow night against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Perfetti – Namestnikov – Iafallo
Barron – Lowry – Pearson
Niederreiter – Toews – Nyquist
Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Schenn
Hellebuyck
Comrie
Up next:
Puck drop is at 5:30 on Sportsnet West.