JGD 9: Jets Look to Become King of Kings

The Winnipeg Jets continue their homestand tonight as they welcome the Los Angeles Kings to the MTS Centre. 

The Jets are coming off a wild (heh…wild, because….ya see….okay) 5-4 win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. The Wild got off to a fast start as Jason Zucker went around Jacob Trouba and scored just 10 seconds into the game, but the Jets quickly responded and ended up holding a 5-1 lead by the early parts of the second period. The Wild turned it on and started to mount a comeback, but the Jets held on to win 5-4. 

Drew Stafford continued his hot start to the season with two goals and young gun Nik Ehlers got on the board again with his third of the season. For whatever reason, Ehlers has not been getting the same kind of attention as some of the other rookies this year. That will most likely have to change if Ehlers keeps playing the way he has. As long as the Jets keep winning, I don’t think it will bother Ehlers that much. 

As for the Kings, after a putrid start to the season dropping their first three games, they have gone on a tear winning five straight. Most recently a 3-2 victory of the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. During their five game winning streak, the Kings have outscored their opponents 14-5. The Jets plan to end their streak at five. 

The Jets won the season series over the Kings last season 2-1-0. 

Lineups courtesy of Daily Faceoff 

Paul Maurice has made no changes to the Jets lineup from Sunday’s game against the Wild. 

It has yet to be confirmed but Ondrej Pavelec is likely to get the start for the Jets. Hutchinson got the start Sunday against the Wild, so it would make sense the Jets go back to Pavelec tonight. 

I’m still very surprised the Kings broke up ‘That 70’s Line’. That line has been their bread and butter and I still don’t feel like Lucic is a very good fit with Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli. But hey, I’m not Darryl Sutter. 

Jonathan Quick is likely to be in net for the Kings. He has started the last four games for the Kings and won them all, posting 0.99 GAA and a .966 save percentage and one shutout. The Jets are averaging 3.50 goals per game so far this season, so he will have his work cut out for him tonight.