Flames at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets have put together the best season in franchise history and they still have an outside shot at winning the Central Division title entering Thursday’s home contest against the Calgary Flames. It would require the Jets to win their final two remaining games while first-place Nashville drops its final two contests but, even with a lineup featuring several key players out on Tuesday, Winnipeg found a way to upend Montreal 5-4 in overtime for its 50th victory.
“To get that many wins over the course (of the season), you can’t have a lot of lulls,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told reporters after rookie Kyle Connor netted his 30th goal of the season in overtime to pull the Jets within three points of the Predators. While the Jets continue revving up for the playoffs, the Flames are heading toward the offseason in a downward spiral - losing eight of their past nine games and allowing four or more goals in seven of those contests. Calgary gave up three goals in the first 22:18 of Tuesday’s 4-1 home defeat to Arizona. “I don’t think the guys are not putting the effort in,” Calgary forward Tanner Glass told the media after Tuesday’s loss. “It’s just not coming easy for us right now.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (36-34-10): Rookie forward Spencer Foo led Calgary with seven shots on goal in his second NHL game Tuesday, but it was not enough to keep the Flames from losing for the 13th time in 17 games. Forward Johnny Gaudreau leads the Flames in assists (59) and points (82), but has just one assist and is a minus-10 in his past six games. Defenseman Travis Hamonic, who has missed the past two games with an upper body injury, skated Wednesday and will make the trip to Winnipeg.
ABOUT THE JETS (50-20-10): Forward Patrik Laine scored his 44th goal of the season Tuesday, snapping a seven-game drought and pulling the 19-year-old within two of league leader Alex Ovechkin. Connor leads all rookies in goals scored and recorded two assists Tuesday, while 22-year-old forward Nikolaj Ehlers added his 29th goal of the season. The Jets won despite not playing goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, top-line center Mark Scheifele and his linemate, forward Blake Wheeler.
OVERTIME
1. Calgary has not scored on its past 30 power plays, and in its past 17 games is just 1-for-48 with the man advantage.
2. Wheeler scored the shootout-winning goal as the Jets beat Calgary 2-1 in January, while four-point nights from D T.J. Brodie and Gaudreau lifted the Flames to a 6-3 victory in October.
3. The Jets are second in the NHL in goals per game (3.34) and fifth in goals allowed per contest (2.67).