Jets at Canucks
The Winnipeg Jets found their rhythm in gaining seven points during a four-game homestand, and now look to carry that into a four-game road trip starting Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Jets, who won three times at home before losing in a shootout versus Buffalo on Friday, prepare to play seven of their next nine games on the road.
“I thought we really started to play our game, and we got contributions from everybody up and down the lineup,” Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor told reporters after the 2-1 loss to the Sabres. “I thought it was a full team effort throughout those four games.” Vancouver has faded since a strong start to the season, dropping a 3-2 decision to Montreal on Saturday to extend its losing streak to five games. “You’re going to play well and you’re going to lose some games when you play well, and you’re going to find a way to win games when you don’t play well,” Canucks coach Travis Green told the media after Friday’s defeat. Forward Jake Virtanen has not scored in his past two games, but already has eight goals on the season after scoring just 10 in 75 games a season ago.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE JETS (11-5-2): Connor brings a five-game point streak (three goals) into the start of the road trip, scoring Winnipeg’s lone goal against Buffalo. Forward Blake Wheeler’s point streak ended at 11 games, but the captain tallied 18 assists during the streak and entered Sunday one off the league lead with 21. While the focus of late has been on improving 5-on-5 play, Winnipeg remains lethal on the power play, leading the NHL at 33.3 percent.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (10-10-2): Vancouver continues to play without forward Brock Boeser, who has not resumed skating and is out of action since Nov. 2 with a groin injury. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom has started four games during the Canucks losing streak, allowing 13 goals on 129 shots in defeats to Buffalo, the Rangers, the Islanders and Montreal. Center Elias Pettersson snapped a five-game goalless drought Saturday and leads Vancouver with 11 goals in 16 games.
OVERTIME
1. Vancouver recalled F Sam Gagner, a veteran of 770 NHL games, from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
2. The Jets have surrendered two or fewer goals in five of their past seven contests.
3. Winnipeg C Mark Scheifele has seven points (four goals) in his past four games.