Yes, Tuesday night’s game was as much fun as a trip to the dentist for root canal surgery. In other words, it wasn’t a good night for the Winnipeg Jets as they fell 4-1 at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks. The Jets hope to avenge the loss in Thursday’s rematch before going on a Christmas break.

Nic Petan returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing 10 games with a lower body injury and he didn’t look out of place. In fact, you could make a strong case that Petan was the best Jet on Tuesday night.

Don’t be surprised if Chris Thorburn returns to the lineup. The gritty winger was a healthy scratch but after Tuesday’s game, expect a change or two with someone in the bottom six taking the fall.

Memo to Paul Maurice: Don’t have Ben Chiarot and Paul Postma match up against the Sedins. That particular match up led to the Canucks first goal and swung momentum to Vancouver’s favour. The suggestion here is have the pairing of Toby Enstrom and Jacob Trouba to go against the twins. Enstrom and Trouba are the most positionally sound pairing on the Jets and they combine a good mixture of smarts, speed and physicality on Trouba’s part. Vancouver does have last change so it won’t be easy for the Jets to get that matchup. 

It wasn’t a banner night for Connor Hellebuyck on Tuesday so the betting money here is that Michael Hutchinson will get the start on Thursday. Hutch’s last start was on December 10 in Calgary and it didn’t go very well. Four goals on 29 shots before being pulled after the second period won’t go down as a good memory for Hutch. We say he needs another start and the hope here is he can erase the Calgary memory and have a solid performance.

The Sedins get most of the attention but the future of the Canuck forward group is Bo Horvat. The 2013 first round draft pick is starting to make waves on the West Coast. Horvat’s 10 goals so far this season has him tied with Daniel Sedin for the team lead and he has been used in a variety of roles with the Canucks. If and when the Canucks begin with a full-on youth movement, Horvat will be leading the way.

Troy Stecher is getting his chance on the Canucks blueline and the young defenceman is starting to turn some heads. The University of North Dakota alum started the season with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate in Utica but was called up early in the season and hasn’t looked back. A good puck moving defenceman, Stecher won’t put up huge offensive numbers, but he will offer a steady, smart game with some skating ability. He isn’t flashy but he’s the type of defenceman every team needs.

Jacob Markstrom was outstanding on Tuesday night so we think he deserves the start between the pipes for the rematch. His .969 save percentage on Tuesday is exceptional but there is the question of can he follow up his splendid showing? We think he deserves the opportunity.

Game Prediction: Every time I predict the Jets to win, they lose. Let’s try some reverse psychology. Canucks win 3-2.

Obvious Prediction: Paul Maurice will put the lines in the blender again, just to mess with us.

Not So Obvious Prediction: Nic Petan will get a goal and will dedicate it to his family who will be at the game. (Side note: Petan was born and raised in nearby Delta, B.C.)