Blackhawks at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets now know their playoff seeding and opponent as the franchise wraps up the regular season Saturday at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, but there is one more order of business before the postseason begins. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who is 43-11-9 during his breakout season, will get the start and a victory will move him past Tom Barrasso for most victories in a season by a U.S.-born goaltender.
“All the hard work that we put in this room, it goes to the guys in front of me,” Hellebuyck told reporters after making 31 saves in Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Calgary. “They’ve been blocking shots all season long and really staying focused on our details, and making my life a lot easier back there.” Winnipeg has rotated key players in and out of the lineup the past two games and likely will do so again Saturday, now that the Jets are locked into second place in the Central Division and will face Minnesota in the first round. The Blackhawks will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08 and will finish with their lowest point total in a full season since 2006-07. Chicago fell Friday to St. Louis 4-1, tying the game on an Erik Gustafsson goal 8:08 into the third period only to give up the game-winning goal just 16 seconds later.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (33-38-10): Forward Alex DeBrincat leads Chicago with 28 goals, tied with Denis Savard for sixth-most all-time among Chicago rookie goal scorers. Center Dylan Sikura has three assists in four games since making his NHL debut on March 29. Four Blackhawks have 30-plus assists this season, led by forward Patrick Kane’s 48 helpers to go with his 27 goals.
ABOUT THE JETS (51-20-10): The combination of Hellebuyck’s great season and a high-powered offense has fueled Winnipeg to a franchise record for points in a season. And the Jets are playing some of their best hockey of the season, bringing a four-game winning streak and eight straight wins on home ice into Saturday. Forward Blake Wheeler has 14 points (five goals) in his past 11 games, while rookie forward Kyle Connor boasts 15 points (eight goals) in his past 12 contests.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago C Jonathan Toews enters the weekend sixth in the NHL with 900 faceoff victories, the fourth time in his career he has reached that mark.
2. Jets D Jacob Trouba, still recovering from a concussion and an ankle injury, may not play Saturday after taking a spill in Friday’s practice.
3. Chicago leads the season series 3-1, outscoring the Jets 15-10 and holding Winnipeg to 1-for-10 on the power play.