Jets at Devils
THE STORY:
Whatever the Winnipeg Jets learned from their third-period meltdown
against the New Jersey Devils over the weekend, they applied it well in a
shutout victory Monday in Ottawa. Next on the Jets' list is a chance at
some revenge as they tangle with the host Devils in a Tuesday rematch.
The Jets were on the verge of ending a two-game losing skid Saturday,
leading New Jersey 1-0 after 40 minutes. The Devils stormed back in the
third period, scoring twice in a three-minute span for their second win
in three meetings with Winnipeg this season. The Jets avoided a similar
collapse Monday, defeating the red-hot Senators 3-0 for only their
second road victory since Dec. 27. Chris Mason earned the blanking but
will likely take a backseat to regular starter Ondrej Pavelec against
New Jersey, which has won three of four to move into sixth place in the
Eastern Conference race, five points clear of the 10th-place Jets.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN Jets, MSG (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE JETS (21-19-5):
Winnipeg showed impressive offensive prowess, firing 35 shots at the
Senators' goal despite missing scoring leader Blake Wheeler and top
defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom. Wheeler has been
released from the hospital and is skating again after being struck in
the throat by a shot Saturday. He isn't expected back for Tuesday's
rematch with the Devils but could return over the weekend if he is
cleared by doctors.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (25-17-2): New
Jersey's league-best penalty-killing had taken a bit of a hit prior to
the Winnipeg tilt, having allowed goals in six of its last eight
contests. Operating at over 90 percent efficiency for most of the
season, the unit returned to prominence Saturday by foiling the Jets on
their only two man-advantage opportunities. The Devils have allowed only
15 power-play goals all season while scoring a league-best 11
shorthanded markers.
OVERTIME:
1. Pavelec is 3-3-2 with a 2.51 goals against average in nine career games against the Devils.
2.
Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk was held off the scoresheet Saturday
against his former franchise, ending a streak of four straight
multi-point efforts.
3. The Devils may have the most shorthanded
goals, but they're also good at giving them up. New Jersey has allowed
12 shorthanded markers; the next closest teams have surrendered only six
apiece.