Oilers at Jets
THE STORY: The Winnipeg Jets equaled the franchise record by going
six games without a loss in regulation (4-0-2), moving into eighth place
in the Eastern Conference and within two points of the Southeast
Division lead. But every team in the East, except Ottawa, has games in
hand on the Jets. They must keep winning with three contests left on an
eight-game homestand. Edmonton has won two of its last three and faces
Winnipeg on Monday for the only time this season.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, SNET-W (Oilers), TSN-Jets
ABOUT THE OILERS (24-31-6): Rookie standout Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
returned to the lineup Saturday against Phoenix and scored his first
goal since Dec. 7. Injuries have limited Nugent-Hopkins to three games
since Jan. 2. The top pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft still has 14
goals and 36 points in 41 games. Devan Dubnyk has played most of the
last five games in goal, replacing injured Nikolai Khabibulin, with a
.912 save percentage. Khabibulin could return Monday. Jordan Eberle
leads the team with 60 points -- 14 in 11 February games.
ABOUT THE JETS (30-26-8):
The Atlanta Thrashers went six games with a regulation loss (6-0-0) in
2010. Blake Wheeler, defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and Evander Kane are
each in the middle of six-game point streaks, helping the Jets gain at
least a point in every contest. Wheeler has 13 points in that span and
Byfuglien has 15 in nine games. Backup goaltender Chris Mason played
Saturday, so Ondrej Pavelec is expected back in net Monday. Pavelec has
allowed seven even-strength goals in his last four starts. Injured
defenseman Zach Bogosian is still questionable.
OVERTIME:
1. Edmonton has the No. 4 power play at 21.2 percent and Winnipeg is only 18 for 28 on the penalty kill in the last nine games.
2. The last time the franchises met was a little over a year ago, when Edmonton won 5-3 in Atlanta.
3. Winnipeg forward Antti Miettinen was back in the lineup Saturday after being placed on waivers the day before.