The Winnipeg Jets’ six-game road trip, one that’s felt like it’s lasted an eternity, finally wraps up tonight in Calgary, where they’ll take on the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Winnipeg is looking to generate any sort of momentum after a frustrating loss in Seattle to the Kraken. The Jets carried a 3-2 lead into the third period but couldn’t hold on, allowing three unanswered goals in a 5-3 defeat on Thursday night. Alex Iafallo, Mark Scheifele, and Kyle Connor found the back of the net, while Connor Hellebuyck faced just 17 shots but turned aside only 13. The Jets enter tonight’s matchup with a 1-4-0 record so far on the road trip.

The Calgary Flames have been nothing short of dreadful to start the year and currently sit dead last in the NHL standings. However, they’re coming off a rare bright spot, a 2-0 shutout win over the red-hot San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Blake Coleman and Samuel Honzek scored, and Dustin Wolf earned First Star honours with a 17-save shutout.

Surprisingly, tonight’s meeting already concludes the season series between these two Canadian rivals. Winnipeg won both previous matchups, a 2-1 victory in Calgary on Oct. 20 and a 5-3 decision at Canada Life Centre on Oct. 24, meaning the teams won’t see each other again until next season.

For the Jets, the focus tonight has to be on building momentum and tightening up defensively before returning home for three straight games. This is a chance to get back to their structure against a Flames team that’s struggled to generate much offensively. Collect two points, leave this road trip in the past, and move forward. When healthy, we know what this group is capable of, and they’re close to being 100% healthy again. But it’s going to take a full team effort and an A-level performance to close out this trip on a positive note.

“We’re in the toughest division in the league,” said Arniel Friday after practice. “And if you happen to look over (at the standings), they’re not losing too many games, the other teams (in the Central). We want to stay in the pack here. We can’t wait until December or January and decide it’s time to turn it on. It’s too hard of a league. We need to start grabbing our points right now.”

Projected lineup (subject to change):

Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi

Namestnikov – Toews – Perfetti

Niederreiter – Lowry – Iafallo

Pearson – Ford – Nyquist

Morrissey – DeMelo

Samberg – Pionk

Stanley – Schenn

Hellebuyck

Comrie

Up next:

Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. CST, and you can watch the game on Sportsnet.