Jets at Flames
The break came at a bad time for the Calgary Flames, as the NHL’s hottest team looks to build upon a seven-game winning streak after five days off in Saturday’s home contest against the Winnipeg Jets. The Flames’ hot stretch has lifted them into a tie for second place in the Pacific Division entering Friday’s play, and the offense is generating plenty of support while scoring four goals or more five times during the winning streak.
“We’re feeling good right now, obviously,” Calgary defenseman Dougie Hamilton told reporters after extending his point streak to five games with two goals in a 4-1 victory Sunday at Carolina. “We’re doing the little things consistent and we haven’t really had a terrible stretch of hockey yet.” The Jets have been outstanding all season but definitely needed the break, losing their final two games to Central Division rivals Chicago and Minnesota. Winnipeg sits tied for second in the Central Division, one point behind Nashville, and leads the Western Conference in goals scored (153). “You saw everyone was on the ice 20-25 minutes before practice today just trying to touch the puck as much as they can and try to get the hands back,” Jets center Bryan Little told the media after Friday’s practice.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CBC, Sportsnet
ABOUT THE JETS (26-13-7): Winnipeg center Blake Wheeler enters Friday tied for third in the NHL in assists (39) and tied for seventh in points (53), helping the Jets churn along despite the loss of Mark Scheifele to an upper-body injury. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who along with Wheeler were named NHL all-stars, is third in the league with 23 wins and owns a 2.40 goals against average. Winnipeg is second in the NHL in power-play percentage (25.5 percent).
ABOUT THE FLAMES (25-16-4): Calgary’s line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Micheal Ferland has combined for 32 points during the winning streak - Gaudreau accounting for 11 assists and 13 points in that stretch to move into a fourth-place tie in the NHL for points (54) through Thursday. Goaltender Mike Smith has stopped 193 of 205 shots in six games during the win streak. The Flames are tied for seventh in the league for fewest goals allowed (122) entering Friday.
OVERTIME
1. The Jets recalled G Michael Hutchinson and F Jack Roslovic from Manitoba of the AHL, and announced G Steve Mason has suffered a concussion.
2. The Flames defeated the Jets 6-3 on Oct. 7 in Calgary, getting two goals and two assists from D T.J. Brodie.
3. Calgary F Jaromir Jagr, who is second in NHL history in points and third in goals, was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury retroactive to Dec. 31.