Coyotes at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets and Arizona Coyotes sit on the outside of the congested wild-card picture in the Western Conference, however the clubs can aid their cause at the other's expense on Monday when they meet in Manitoba. The Jets have collected a point in 10 of their last 15 games (9-5-1) to hold a two-point edge over the Coyotes.
Connor Hellebuyck recorded his NHL-best and career-tying sixth shutout of the season on Friday after turning aside 29 shots in Winnipeg's 4-0 victory versus visiting Vegas. "I'm just having a lot of fun and taking every moment in like it might not happen again. So I'm enjoying it," said the 26-year-old Hellebuyck, who has blanked two opponents in his last four games. The Jets have been enjoying their time at home by winning five straight at Bell MTS Place heading into Monday's tilt against Arizona, which dropped a 3-2 decision in Calgary on Friday. "You can't go on skids, that's the biggest thing. You lose one, you've got to get back on the horse and find a way to get a point or two in the next game, especially when you're on the road," Coyotes forward Taylor Hall told reporters.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Arizona, FS Arizona Plus, TSN3
ABOUT THE COYOTES (33-28-8): Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson has stepped up his play on the offensive end by setting up Carl Soderberg's goal midway into the second period on Friday to extend his point streak to three games (two goals, three assists). Soderberg has three goals and an assist in his last five contests after mustering just one point in his previous 10. Conor Garland, who leads the team with 22 goals, has been held off the scoresheet in six of his last seven games.
ABOUT THE JETS (35-28-6): Should Kyle Connor score in his sixth straight game on Monday, he will join Patrick Kane (Chicago), Sebastian Aho (Carolina), Max Domi (Montreal) and Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers) for the NHL's longest goal streak of the season. The 23-year-old Connor capped Winnipeg's three-goal first period with his club-best 36th tally on Friday, with the marker serving as his sixth in five games. Connor, who is tied with Mark Scheifele for the team lead in points (71), joined his teammate in scoring a goal in the Jets' 4-2 setback against the Coyotes on Oct. 15.
OVERTIME
1. Arizona C Christian Dvorak, who is mired in an eight-game goal drought, tallied twice in the first meeting with Winnipeg.
2. Jets LW Patrik Laine has scored 17 of his 27 goals at home this season.
3. Coyotes C Nick Schmaltz has recorded just six of his club-leading 34 assists in his last 25 games.