Jets at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: Someone's losing streak will come to an end Saturday when the Winnipeg Jets face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Winnipeg's skid reached four games Thursday when it returned home from a 3-2-2 road trip and dropped a 5-2 decision to the Florida Panthers. The Blue Jackets suffered a 6-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, extending their slide to three contests. Columbus has had lots of success against the Jets franchise of late, posting three shutouts during its current five-game winning streak. Winnipeg has lost four of five on the road against the Blue Jackets, who may have Jeff Carter back in the lineup. The high-scoring forward participated in full practice Friday and could return after missing 10 games with a fractured foot.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), CBC
ABOUT THE JETS (5-8-3): Chris Mason was activated from injured reserve on Friday after missing seven games with a groin injury. Mason, who is 16-4-2 with a 2.05 goals-against average in 22 career contests against Columbus, could get the start Saturday as Ondrej Pavelec has lost all three of his career starts versus the Blue Jackets. Peter Mannino was sent to St. John's of the American Hockey League to make room for Mason. Mannino made his season debut Thursday, stopping all four shots he faced against Florida in relief of Pavelec.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (2-12-1): Mark Letestu made his debut with Columbus in Thursday's loss to Chicago two days after being acquired from Pittsburgh and scored a goal. The 26-year-old notched one assist in 11 contests with the Penguins prior to the deal. The Blue Jackets swapped defensemen with St. Louis on Friday, sending Kris Russell to the Blues for Nikita Nikitin. The 25-year-old Nikitin, who collected nine points in 41 games with St. Louis last season, failed to record a point in seven contests this campaign.
OVERTIME:
1. Columbus rookie Ryan Johansen has scored three goals in 11 games this season, including the winning tally in both of the Blue Jackets' victories.
2. Neither team has been very good defensively this season. Columbus is 30th in the league in both goals-against average (3.87) and penalty killing (71.2 percent), while Winnipeg is 28th with 3.44 goals allowed per game. The Blue Jackets also are futile on the power play, ranking 29th at 11.4 percent.