Rangers at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a contending team rumored to be seeking help at the trade deadline, and Sunday provides an up-close and personal opportunity to see some of the talent on the market when they host the New York Rangers. New York's leadership issued a letter this week telling fans, in essence, that trades of core pieces may be coming, a decision made after the Rangers opened February by being outscored 17-4 in four consecutive losses.
Friday’s 4-3 victory over Calgary provided a brief positive moment for the Rangers, who have dropped 10 of their past 14 games to fall outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. “If I were a player, I would be looking at the standings, seeing that we’re three points out of the playoffs,” New York coach Alain Vigneault told the media after the victory, stressing his team remains in the postseason hunt. The Jets saw center Mark Scheifele return from injury in Friday’s 5-2 loss to St. Louis - just Winnipeg’s fourth home regulation defeat of the season - but a variety of other injuries contributed to a poor showing against the Blues. “Don’t burn the house down after you’ve had one bad game,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters after Saturday’s practice, hours after describing Friday’s performance as horse (crap). “I’ve got lots of confidence in our ability to rebound.”
TV: 3 p.m. ET, NHLNetwork, MSG Plus (New York), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (26-24-5): Forward Rick Nash, one of several veterans expected to be dealt before the end of the month, scored his 17th goal of the season in Friday’s victory. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves after coming on in the second period for the injured Ondrej Pavelec. New York has struggled on the road, going 8-14-2, and overall has dropped seven of its past nine contests.
ABOUT THE JETS (32-14-9): The high-powered Winnipeg offense mustered just 12 shots on goal through the first 40 minutes Friday, and the usually sound Connor Hellebuyck gave up three goals in a span of 7:21 in the second period. Patrik Laine, who left briefly after blocking a shot, scored his NHL-leading 14th power-play goal in the third. The Jets are 3-1-1 through half of a 10-game homestand, but lost first place in the Central Division after Nashville's shootout win in Montreal on Saturday.
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg hopes F Matt Hendricks (upper-body) can return Sunday, but still is missing C Adam Lowry (upper-body) and F Brandon Tanev, (upper-body) along with D Jacob Trouba (ankle).
2. New York F Jimmy Vesey practiced with the team Saturday and is expected to play Sunday, after missing the past three games with a concussion.
3. Jets rookie F Kyle Connor has a team-high six points (three goals) through five games of the Jets current homestand.