Jets at Flyers
THE STORY: The Winnipeg Jets will begin their longest
road trip of the season when they start their seven-game trek in the
City of Brotherly Love on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Considering that the Jets have yet to record a win in four games away
from Manitoba (0-3-1), well, let's just say that Claude Noel's club has
its work clearly defined. A lack of offense seems to be the primary
culprit for Winnipeg's struggles this season. The Jets have managed just
one goal in four of their eight contests this season - with little help
from its top line. Andrew Ladd has two goals while Blake Wheeler and
Bryan Little are still searching for their first. "A lot of them would
like to be getting going," Noel said. "It has not been something that's
been easy for us to attain, whether it's the third period or whatever.
They're just not coming very easily." After a strong start, Flyers coach
Peter Laviolette might be inclined to say the same thing. Philadelphia
fell for the third time in four contests on Wednesday when it suffered a
5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, CSP
ABOUT THE JETS (2-5-1): After assisting on Nik
Antropov's goal on Monday, Alex Burmistrov is riding a five-game point
streak. The eighth overall pick of the 2010 draft, Burmistrov failed to
dent the scoresheet in four games against the Flyers last season. Center
Jim Slater, who shares the team lead with three goals, took a knee to
the head on Saturday. He missed Monday's 2-1 loss against the New York
Rangers, but is expected to suit up against Philadelphia.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (5-3-1): Despite going 0-for-4 in
Wednesday's loss, Philadelphia's power play has accounted for 39.3
percent of its offense this season. After failing to score in his first
seven games since returning to the NHL after a three-year absence,
Jaromir Jagr has recorded three goals in his last two contests. Sergei
Bobrovsky, who has won both of his starts this season, will get the nod
after Ilya Bryzgalov struggled on Wednesday.
OVERTIME:
1. The former Atlanta Thrashers traditionally didn't fare so well
against the Flyers, posting a 10-30-2 mark in their last 42 meetings.
Last season, however, the club defeated Philadelphia in the last three
outings.
2. Signed to a six-year, $25.5 million contract extension prior to the
season, LW James van Riemsdyk has been held off the scoresheet in his
last four contests.