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The Winnipeg Jets got back on track after winning a divisional matchup against the Nashville Predators this past Tuesday, Jan. 7th. Tonight the Jets begin another pair of back-to-back matchups, this time they’re both at home. They will play the Los Angeles Kings tonight and then the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night.
In Winnipeg’s previous game, they completely dominated the Predators, jumping ahead 3-0 in the first period. Kyle Connor netted his 23rd goal of the season to make it 3-0. Connor is tied for 5th in the NHL with Kiril Kaprizov, his teammate Mark Scheifele, and Sam Reinhart for goals (23). Connor Hellebuyck in the 5-2 win against the Predators, recorded his 300th NHL win. He leads the NHL in wins (25), shutouts (5), GAA (2.08), and he is second in SV% (.926).
The Los Angeles Kings were supposed to play this past Wednesday, Jan. 8th, in Los Angeles against the Calgary Flames. Unfortunately, the game was postponed due to the raging wildfires currently occurring in LA. In their previous game, the Kings defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in regulation. Adrian Kempe scored his 19th of the season and the game winner to lift his squad to victory. The Kings are 4-1-0 in their last five games, and are on a four-game win streak.
The last time the Jets and Kings went head-to-head, LA came up victorious, steamrolling the Jets 4-1. LA outshot the Jets 33-14. The Jets were also tired after playing in Vegas the night before, but, they got embarrassed. Hopefully tonights game will be a different outcome and effort for the Jets hoping to tie the season series.
The expected starter for Winnipeg is Eric Comrie. Comrie last started against the Colorado Avalanche on New Year’s Eve. He stopped 33 out of 36 shots for a .917 SV% in the 5-2 loss. This season comrie has a 3-6-0 record, .904 SV%, and a 3.05 GAA.
Darcy Kuemper is projected to start in goal for LA. Kuemper played in their last game against the Lightning, where he stopped an impressive 33 out of 34 shots for a .971 SV%. His record this season is 11-2-5, which is a huge improvement for him compared to last year with Washington. He has a .920 SV% and a 2.23 GAA so far this campaign.
Jets Projected Lineup
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Perfetti – Namestnikov – Ehlers
Niederreiter – Lowry – Iafallo
Barron – Gustafsson – Kupari
Perfetti – Namestnikov – Ehlers
Niederreiter – Lowry – Iafallo
Barron – Gustafsson – Kupari
Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Coghlan
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Coghlan
S: Comrie
BU: Hellebuyck
BU: Hellebuyck
Kings Projected Lineup
Turcotte – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Byfield – Jeannot
Fiala – Danault – Laferriere
Moore – Lewis
Foegele – Byfield – Jeannot
Fiala – Danault – Laferriere
Moore – Lewis
Anderson – Gavrikov
Edmindson – Clarke
Moverare – Spence
Edmindson – Clarke
Moverare – Spence
S: Darcy Kuemper
BU: David Rittich
BU: David Rittich
Up Next:
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m CT and the game is available to watch on TSN3.
Make sure to check back here after the game for the post-game article.