Penguins at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets suffered two overtime losses against top Eastern Conference teams on a quick two-game trip earlier in the week and can avenge one of them when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night. The Jets dropped a 2-1 decision at Pittsburgh on Thursday and lost by the same score at Columbus one night later, giving them at least a point in six of the last seven games.
“We had the right mindset,” Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler told reporters. “(Thursday) was a tough one. (Friday) was a tough one. We had ‘em where we wanted ‘em. Tough back-to-back. … I think that’s a pretty good situation. It’s just too bad we weren’t able to close ‘em out.” The Jets gave up an average of 36.5 shots in the two overtime losses and hope to give their goalie a little easier night when they face the star-studded Penguins, who are in a mini-funk offensively with six goals combined in the last four games. Pittsburgh fell 2-1 at Minnesota on Saturday, getting only a power-play goal from Evgeni Malkin in the first period. “I don’t think we’re good enough 5-on-5 right now,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. “We tend to be one-and-done in the offensive zone.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, TVA, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (7-4-1): Malkin and Phil Kessel, who had an assist Saturday, both boast 12 points to lead the team while captain Sidney Crosby is next with 11 after managing just one (assist) despite 19 shots in the past four contests. Defenseman Kris Letang notched an assist against Minnesota to push his season total to seven points, but the former All-Star is a minus-11 in the first 12 contests. Sullivan told reporters he will make the decision on his starting goalie Sunday between backup Casey DeSmith and No. 1 Matt Murray (four goals allowed last three games).
ABOUT THE JETS (4-3-2): Steve Mason, who was brought in as a free agent to be the No. 1 goalie, stopped 35 of 37 shots in the loss to Columbus - his best start of the season after allowing 16 goals in his first three outings. “He played great,” Wheeler told reporters. “I think we finally gave him a fighting chance. … There were a couple of times in the first period we were stuck in there and he battled hard for us.” Left wing Nikolaj Ehlers has been kept off the scoresheet in the last two games after notching all six of his team-leading goals in the previous five contests.
OVERTIME
1. Kessel, who reached 300 goals in Thursday's win over Winnipeg, has 10 points in his last seven contests.
2. Winnipeg F Joel Armia missed Friday’s game with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for Sunday.
3. The Penguins have scored 17 goals combined while winning the last four meetings with the Jets.