Connor Hellebuyck returned to the lineup Saturday, coming back a week earlier than the minimum 4-6 week timeline after missing 12 games following knee surgery. The reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner helped backstop Winnipeg to a dominant 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals, earning a much-needed two points. Gabriel Vilardi scored twice (his 15th and 16th), Logan Stanley added his fifth, Alex Iafallo and Morgan Barron found the scoresheet for the second straight game, and Hellebuyck turned aside 24 shots as the Jets improved to 15-15-1, back to the .500 mark.

Ottawa is coming off a frustrating 3-2 regulation loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. The Senators erased a 2-0 deficit with goals from Tim Stutzle (15th) and Dylan Cozens (10th), but Joel Eriksson Ek’s seventh of the season with 24 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner, dropping Ottawa to 14-13-4. Leevi Merilainen made 22 saves in the loss.

These two teams will meet again in less than a month, with the rematch set for Jan. 3 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

Much of the focus for the Jets tonight will be on carrying over the momentum from Saturday’s season-best performance, which resembled more of last year’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning club, before they head out on a three-game road trip. Winnipeg has struggled at times this season to build off strong performances, often losing momentum quickly. That can’t happen again tonight, as the schedule only gets tougher with four straight games against Central Division opponents ahead.

Projected lineup (subject to change):

Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi

Niederreiter – Namestnikov – Perfetti

Barron – Lowry – Iafallo

Koepke – Toews – Nyquist

Morrissey – DeMelo

Samberg – Pionk

Stanley – Schenn

Hellebuyck

Comrie

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Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m. CST on Amazon Prime.