JGD22: Into the Wild

The Jets are looking to get back on track after losing three in a row overall and four in a row on the road. This week features three match-ups against divisional opponents, so salvaging some points out of this road trip is of the utmost importance. It won’t be easy against a Minnesota team that doesn’t give much space, as evidenced by their game against Dallas on Monday.

Drew Stafford participated in his first practice in awhile – well, the entire team participated in a practice for the first time in awhile, but Stafford’s was his first since his injury – and will play for the first time since the Dallas loss on October 25. Kyle Connor flew in to Minneapolis-St.Paul on Monday night, but practiced in a non-contact jersey, as did Bryan Little. Today’s morning skate, however, saw Connor back in a regular jersey, so he could be ready to go soon.

The Wild have lost two in a row (one in OT on Monday to Dallas) and have lost six of the last nine (2 in OT). Minnesota has not scored more than 2 goals in a game in almost a month (since they beat Dallas 4-0 back on October 29). 

Puckdrop is 6pm Winnipeg-time and the game will be on Sportsnet360 and TSN1290.

(9-10-2, tied for 4th in Central)

Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler

Tanev-Petan-Stafford

Copp-Lowry-Laine

Dano-Burmistrov-Thorburn

Morrissey-Byfuglien

Enstrom-Trouba

Stuart-Chiarot

Hellebuyck

(9-7-2, tied for 4th in Central)

Parise-Staal-Coyle

Graovac-Koivu-Granlund

Niederreiter-Haula-Pominville

Zucker-Mitchell-Stewart

Suter-Spurgeon

Brodin-Folin

Dumba-Scandella

Dubnyk

Projected lines for both teams courtesy of Brian Munz on Twitter (@BrianMunzTSN)

Game Prediction: Jets get back to their winning ways with a 3-2 win over Minnesota.

Obvious Prediction: Chris Thorburn and Chris Stewart have another ‘fight’ that proves absolutely nothing. 

Not So Obvious Prediction: Drew Stafford has an immediate impact with a goal in the first and an assist on the winner in the third.