Jets at Canucks
THE STORY: One team will be trying to maintain its hold on a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference and the other is hoping to grab the top spot in the West as the Winnipeg Jets face off against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Winnipeg is eighth in the East, two points ahead of Washington and Tampa Bay. The Jets are coming off a 5-1-2 homestand and have earned at least one point in eight of their last nine overall. Vancouver, which is one point behind St. Louis for first in the West, is 1-2-0 on its seven-game homestand. The Canucks have lost four of their last five contests overall but have not dropped three straight at home since January 2011.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN (Winnipeg), Rogers Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE JETS (32-27-8): Grant Clitsome made his Jets debut in the win over Buffalo on Monday, one week after being claimed off waivers from Columbus. The defenseman failed to get on the scoresheet after registering four goals and 10 assists in 51 games with the Blue Jackets. Clitsome recorded three blocked shots and three hits in just under 19 1/2 minutes of ice time. "I like the way Grant played," coach Claude Noel said. "He had a really good first period."
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (41-18-8): Ryan Kesler has been in a funk lately, tallying once in his last 13 contests following a five-game goal-scoring streak. The Sedin twins also have struggled offensively, combining for one assist over their last six matches. "It's tough when you lose and you're not contributing," Daniel Sedin said. "We can't really panic, just keep working hard." Clitsome was impressed with the crowd at the MTS Centre. "It exceeded my expectations," he said. "I was loud watching from the press box the other night, but being on the ice and kind of being swarmed by it, it was impressive."
OVERTIME:
1. The Canucks are 4-0-1 in their last five games against Western Conference opponents.
2. Winnipeg has outscored its opponents 10-1 over its last two games, both victories.
3. The Jets have won four of their last five meetings with Northwest Division teams.