The return of Kyle Connor: Game day 43 Winnipeg Jets vs New York Islanders

Photo credit:© James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

6 months ago

Be sure to check Betway to check out the latest Jets game day odds and bet on the NHL! The Winnipeg Jets (28-10-4) look to begin another win streak as they welcome the New York Islanders (19-14-10) for the first time this season. The Islanders are currently holding 5th place in the Metropolitan Division. The Jets are looking to get back on top of the NHL with a win tonight. The Jets have NOT picked up a victory in the 2020’s against the Islanders you have to go back to 2018 to find the last Jets win over the Islanders when the Jets would win 3-1.

The Islanders played last night in Minnesota where they got decimated by the Wild, 5-0. Ilya Sorokin was pulled during the second intermission after allowing three goals on 32 shots. The Islanders were held to just three shots in the second. Ken Appleby would finish the rest of the game. The Islanders are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, collecting 7 out of 20 possible points.

JETS NATION PRESENTED BY BETWAY

The highly anticipated Winnipeg Jets are coming off of being shutout 2-0 by the Philadelphia Flyers and having their 8 game winning streak snapped look to bounce back and start a new winning streak. The Jets remain 3rd in the league, trailing the 1st place Vancouver Canucks and the 2nd place Boston Bruins, but are 1st in the Central Division.

NHL All-star Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal. He is coming off a shut out loss to the Flyers where he stopped 34 of 36 shots. This season Hellebuyck has a 21-7-3 record which is tied for 2nd in the NHL, a .924 save percentage which is tied for 3rd in the NHL and he has a 2.19 goals-against average which is 2nd in the NHL.

The expected but not confirmed starter for New York is Ken Appleby since last night he replaced Ilya Sorokin after Sorokin gave up 3 goals. Appleby stopped 6 of the 8 shots he faced last night for a .750 save percentage in their 5-0 loss.

It has been confirmed that the Jets leading scorer Kyle Connor returns to the lineup tonight after missing 16 games. Mark Scheifele has been put on the injury reserve, he will not play tonight. Gabriel Viladri will be a game time decision but will most likely play but is dealing with the winter cold that is going around.

Projected Lineup:

Connor – Lowry – Vilardi

Perfetti – Namestnikov – Ehlers

Niederreiter – Toninato – Appleton

Barron – Kupari – Iafallo

Morrissey – DeMelo

Dillon – Pionk

Samberg – Schmidt

Hellebuyck (.924 SV%)

Brossoit (.923 SV%)

Up next:

Puck drop this evening is at 7:00 PM CST. You can watch the game on TSN3 or listen in on CJOB.