Coyotes at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets keep finding ways to win despite a rash of injuries, but there is a semblance of good news for the Central Division leaders entering Tuesday’s home contest against the Arizona Coyotes. Top-line center Mark Scheifele has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since late December and could return to the lineup as early as Friday, but the Jets spent Monday contemplating how to configure their penalty kill due to various ailments.
“We’ll need two forwards in, or (defenseman) Tucker Poolman can play up front,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media after Monday’s practice, ruling Adam Lowry, Matt Hendricks and Brandon Tanev out of Tuesday’s contest. While the Jets have earned points in nine straight and are 15-1-1 in their past 16 home games, the Coyotes are on a three-game losing streak and have been outscored 12-2 during that stretch. “You’re going to get the best of the best, and if you’re not in compete mode - that’s my job, to get these guys to compete - you get embarrassed,” Arizona coach Rick Tocchet told reporters after Saturday’s 6-0 loss at Los Angeles. Goaltender Antti Raanta has missed the past two games after being involved in a rear-end automobile collision, and Arizona started the week with the worst record in the NHL.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona Plus (Phoenix), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (12-31-9): In Raanta’s absence, Scott Wedgewood has allowed nine goals on 59 shots in two games, while Arizona began the week 30th in goals against (3.42 per game) and goals scored (2.27 per contest). Center Clayton Keller leads Arizona in points (36) and is tied with forward Brendan Perlini in goals (14), but has not scored a goal since New Year’s Eve. Arizona is 2-for-20 on the power play in its past nine games.
ABOUT THE JETS (31-13-9): Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won his career-best 27th game with Saturday’s 3-0 shutout over Colorado, and ranks seventh in the league in goals against average (2.30). Captain Blake Wheeler has five assists in his past four games and sits tied for second in the NHL in assists (44) through Sunday. Winnipeg has converted 30.9 percent of its power-play opportunities at home entering the fourth of a 10-game homestand.
OVERTIME
1. The Coyotes have as many wins on the road (six) as they do at home, and own the worst goal differential in the NHL (minus-63).
2. Winnipeg promoted Fs Nic Petan and Brendan Lemieux from Manitoba of the AHL late Monday afternoon.
3. The Jets swept a home-and-home from Arizona in November, winning both games 4-1.