Hurricanes at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets have won the first four contests of a six-game homestand as they make a push to be included in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Winnipeg’s homestand continues on Thursday when it hosts the Carolina Hurricanes, who have one win in nine games this month. The meeting is the fourth and final one between the Southeast Division foes, with the Jets taking two of three with 4-3 and 4-1 victories at Carolina. The Hurricanes defeated the Jets 3-1 at Winnipeg on March 30 - their last road victory.
Winnipeg is even with the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the conference, four points behind division-leading Washington. Carolina held the division lead as recently last month before going 2-14-1 without the services of starting goaltender Cam Ward. Justin Peters, who made 34 saves to pick up the victory against the Jets, has started the last four games for the Hurricanes. Ondrej Pavelec is playing well on Winnipeg’s winning streak, holding opponents to fewer than three goals in three of his last four starts.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Carolinas, TSN Jets
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (17-23-2): Ward is still not close to returning from an MCL strain and Dan Ellis has missed the last four games due to knee soreness. With two goals in three games, Jeff Skinner appeared to have finally regained his scoring touch following a concussion earlier in the season. However Skinner was knocked out of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Ottawa with a big open-ice hit, raising concerns of another head injury. Jiri Tlusty raised his goal total to a career-high 19 with two in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Boston. Tlusty’s previous mark was 17, set last season over 79 games.
ABOUT THE JETS (22-19-2): Captain Andrew Ladd is leading the playoff push with four goals in the last three contests and nine points on a five-game streak. Nik Antropov has missed five games with a lower-body injury but skated on Tuesday, suggesting he could return soon. Defenseman Tobias Enstrom, who missed significant time with a shoulder injury earlier in the season, has missed the last two games after leaving in the first period of a 4-1 victory over Buffalo with a back ailment. Enstrom had not registered a point in seven games prior to the injury. Blake Wheeler has seven points on a four-game streak.
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg LW Evander Kane has six points in the three previous games against Carolina.
2. Hurricanes captain Eric Staal has 58 points in 57 career games against Winnipeg.
3. The Jets qualified for the playoffs in 2007 when they were the Atlanta Thrashers. The franchise has never won a playoff game.
PREDICTION: Jets 3, Hurricanes 1