Jets at Sabres
The surprising Winnipeg Jets are perched atop the Central Division but staying there could be a challenge given their upcoming schedule. Owners of one the top home records in the NHL, the Jets begin a stretch of four straight and six of seven on the road that will take them to the All-Star break when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
Winnipeg has won five of six overall and extended its winning streak to five straight at home with a 4-1 victory over San Jose on Sunday to move two points ahead of St. Louis for first place in the Central. "November, December were tough schedules. We made the most of our home games which was really, really critical," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "Some of those road trips can be a little taxing for your club, so you got to be good at home." Eastern Conference-worst Buffalo was forced to play the last seven away from home while the World Junior Championships were being contested at KeyBank Arena. The Sabres went 1-4-2 during that span and have dropped four in a row, including a 4-3 setback at Winnipeg on Jan. 5 that halted Buffalo's string of four straight wins in the series.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE JETS (25-11-7): Winnipeg is putting plenty of emphasis on the next three road games, which will take the team into its bye week. "You look at where we're positioned, and we like that. But there are teams right on our heels," said captain Blake Wheeler. "You have a bad week or two, and you're on the playoff bubble probably. There's no time for feeling gratified in January. We have to keep pushing forward." Wheeler has scored five times during a six-game point streak.
ABOUT THE SABRES (10-23-9): Starting goaltender Robin Lehner took a hard shot off the neck in Sunday's game and remained in the game after receiving treatment. He missed Monday's practice, prompting the recall of netminder Linus Ullmark and top defenseman prospect Brendan Guhle from the minors. With Lehner listed as day-to-day and backup goalie Chad Johnson falling to 1-7-3 on the season after the loss in Winnipeg, Ullmark could get the start Tuesday.
OVERTIME
1. Jets G Connor Hellebuyck is riding a nine-game point streak (7-0-2).
2. Sabres F Jason Pominville has three assists in the past 13 games -- two coming against the Jets.
3. Winnipeg has scored at least one power-play goal in five straight games, going 7-for-19 in that span.