Stars at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets sit comfortably in second place in the Central Division, 10 points out of the lead with 11 games remaining, so the focus now is on getting key elements of the lineup healthy and back on the ice starting Sunday at home against the Dallas Stars. The Jets are hopeful centers Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry can play as well as defenseman Toby Enstrom, three days after defenseman Jacob Trouba returned and earned two assists in a 6-2 win over Chicago.
“Both felt good going into practice, and both got through it well,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told reporters after Saturday’s practice in referring to Scheifele and Lowry, adding Enstrom will be evaluated again at morning skate. “They’re knocking on the door now.” While the Jets held a seven-point lead over Minnesota for in the race for second and third in the Central entering Saturday, the Stars are in the middle of a crowded race for a Western Conference wild-card spot. Dallas is struggling at the worst possible time, going winless in its past four games following Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss at Ottawa, and coach Ken Hitchcock told the media afterward he was still proud that his team earned a point. “To come back and get a point in this game after we almost gave it away is good,” he said. “We move on.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, FSN Southwest (Dallas), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE STARS (38-26-8): One troubling aspect for Dallas of late is holding late leads, as evidence in giving up two third-period advantages in a shootout loss at Toronto, and losing a lead Friday before Tyler Pitlick’s late score forced overtime. Goaltender Ben Bishop made 22 saves against the Senators in his first action in six games following a knee injury. Center Tyler Seguin set a new career high with his 38th goal to open the scoring for Dallas on Friday, and has 18 points (nine goals) in his past 12 games.
ABOUT THE JETS (42-19-10): Winnipeg went winless in the final three games of a six-game road trip, but blitzed the Blackhawks for five goals in the opening period in Thursday’s victory. Forward Patrik Laine picked up an assist to give him points in 14 consecutive games (16 goals, 24 points) to set a new NHL mark for longest streak by a teenager. Forward Kyle Connor, who snapped an eight-game goal drought with one against Nashville on Tuesday, scored twice on Thursday to give him 25 on the season (second among NHL rookies) entering Saturday.
OVERTIME
1. Seguin entered the weekend fourth in the NHL in goals, three behind Laine's 41 and four behind league leader Alex Ovechkin of Washington.
2. Winnipeg G Connor Hellebuyck entered the weekend third in the NHL in wins (36), eighth in goals against average (2.35) and tied for eighth in save percentage (.925).
3. The Jets have won all three meetings with Dallas this season, outscoring the Stars 14-6 as Scheifele boasts six goals, Laine four and F Blake Wheeler owns eight assists.