Jets at Canadiens
THE STORY: The Winnipeg Jets will look to extend their winning streak to four games Wednesday when they visit the struggling Montreal Canadiens. The Jets, second in the Southeast Division, hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens, losers of two straight and seven of their last eight games, are eight points behind Winnipeg in 13th. They also sit dead last in the Northeast Division. The two teams split the first two of four meeting this year. Both games have been played in Winnipeg, and include a 4-0 shutout for Ondrej Pavelec and the Jets on Dec. 22. Blake Wheeler led the offense with two goals and an assist.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN
ABOUT THE JETS (19-14-5): After playing 12 of 14 games at home in a record-setting December (10-3-1), the Jets will play their next four on the road, and nine of 13 January games away from the MTS Centre. Winnipeg is just 5-8-4 on the road this season. The Jets, 6-3-1 in their last 10, are coming off a 3-2 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 31. Pavelec made 22 saves to improve to 14-12-5 on the season with three shutouts. Andrew Ladd, Zach Bogosian and Wheeler provided the offense.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (14-18-7): Montreal, 3-7-0 in its last 10, is coming off a 3-2 road loss to the Florida Panthers. Travis Moen and Erik Cole scored in the loss. Carey Price (13-14-7) made 32 saves. The Canadiens closed out 2011 by losing five of six on the road. They play their next three at the Bell Centre, where they hold a 5-7-6 record. Moen’s goal was his ninth of the season, the most he has had since an 11-goal campaign with the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-07.
OVERTIME:
1. Montreal defenseman Josh Gorges, who leads the NHL with 101 blocked shots, signed a six-year contract extension on Jan. 1.
2. Special teams are two different stories for the Canadiens. Montreal is second in the NHL with an 88.9 penalty kill percentage but ranks last in power-play efficiency at just 12.8 percent.