Bruins at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are heading to the playoffs thanks in part to the dynamic scoring of Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, but their hottest player entering Tuesday’s home game against the Boston Bruins is a rookie. Forward Kyle Connor scored four goals - including back-to-back game-winning overtime tallies - in three games last week, earning NHL Third Star is the Week honors.
“I think every game you play in this league, you get more confidence,” Connor told reporters after finishing with one goal and two assists in Sunday’s 5-4 shootout victory over Nashville, giving him 29 goals on the season - tied for the NHL lead among rookies. The Bruins began the week trailing Tampa Bay by two points for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, going 3-0-2 in their past five games following Sunday’s 2-1 overtime triumph at Minnesota. Brad Marchand once again found the net in the extra period, his NHL record-tying fifth overtime goal of the season and 12th of his career, giving the forward nine goals and 22 points in his past 12 contests. “This year I’ve played with a lot of guys that can make plays and I’ve benefited from that,” Marchand told the media afterward.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (47-17-10): Perhaps the best news from Sunday’s victory was the return of top-line center Patrice Bergeron, who finished with two assists after missing the previous 13 games with a broken right foot. Tuukka Rask, who made 24 saves against the Wild, is fifth in the league in goals against average (2.32) and tied for sixth in wins (32). Boston allows the second-fewest shots on goal per game (29.2).
ABOUT THE JETS (46-19-10): The trio of Laine, Ehlers and Connor has combined for 100 goals, 43 coming from the 19-year-old Laine, who ranks second in the NHL. Connor Hellebuyck ranks third in wins (39) and seventh in goals against average (2.36) entering Monday. Winnipeg leads the league in home victories, going 29-7-2.
OVERTIME
1. Boston F David Pastrnak has scored eight goals (18 points) in his past 13 games.
2. Both teams excel on special teams: Winnipeg is third in the NHL on the power play (23.4 percent) and fifth in penalty kill at 82.8 percent, while Boston is eighth with the man advantage (22.0) and tied for sixth in penalty kill (82.7) through Sunday.
3. Winnipeg D Jacob Trouba (concussion) has been cleared for full contact, but coach Paul Maurice said the Jets will bring him along slowly.