Jets at Hurricanes
Justin Williams has carved out a reputation for delivering in the clutch, earning the nickname "Mr. Game 7" for rising to the occasion when the stakes are highest. Williams came through in a big spot in his season debut and leads the Carolina Hurricanes into their final game before the All-Star break against the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.
The captain of Carolina in its run to the Eastern Conference finals last season, Williams ended his retirement early this month and scored the decisive goal in the shootout versus the New York Islanders to end the team's three-game slide. “Butterflies are going, but you need to settle yourself down," Williams said. "It was fun and we got what we wanted: two points. And we got another (game) before the break.” Winnipeg is skidding into the break with four losses in five games, having been outscored 12-3 in back-to-back losses to Tampa Bay and Chicago. “We’re playing against teams tight with us in the standings," defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "These next two games before the break, and then the push towards the end of the season, we’re going to have to be at our best, we’re going to have to go to another level here and get wins.”
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: TSN3, FS Carolina
ABOUT THE JETS (25-20-4): Injuries have plagued Winnipeg and the team was hit with another when center Adam Lowry had to exit Sunday's game in the first period due to an upper-body ailment and left the arena with his left arm in a sling. "We still have to get the final testing, get it looked at back at home," coach Paul Maurice told reporters of Lowry's injury. But, it’s not short term so it will be a month before we’re talking about his re-entry." Andrew Copp took Lowry's place on the third line at Monday's practice.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (28-18-3): Williams, who had 23 goals and 53 points last season before scoring four goals in the playoffs, had three shots on goal and logged 13 minutes of ice time before recording his fifth deciding goal in a shootout. “I expected him to be a little more rusty, just the pace because that was a fast game," coach Rod Brind’Amour said of the 38-year-old Williams. "But he fit right in. He put in the work and it showed.” Carolina is in dire need of offense after scoring four times in its last four games.
OVERTIME
1. Carolina snapped a four-game losing streak in the series with a 6-3 win at Winnipeg on Dec. 17
2. The Jets are 1-for-12 on the power play over the last four games after failing on all five chances Sunday.
3. Hurricanes C Sebastian Aho scored twice at Winnipeg last month but has one tally and four assists in nine games this month.