The Winnipeg Jets travelled back home following a 3-2 OT win against the Avalanche on Wednesday to prepare for the Utah Hockey Club (again). The Jets lost 5-2 against Utah on Monday, and that game was “one of their worst efforts” according to head coach Scott Arniel. Tonight, at 7 pm CT, the Jets will look to pick up another much needed win, as the 4 Nations face-off tournament break approaches in 2 weeks time.

News from this morning broke from the Jets that Brad Lambert has been recalled from the Manitoba Moose. The Jets recently set Manitoba’s captain Dominic Toninato back to the Moose, meaning the Jets needed to make a corresponding move to have 13 healthy forwards. Lambert, the Jets 2022 1st round pick, played 4 games for the Jets earlier this season, and it appears that he will get a chance back in the lineup tonight. In the AHL with the Moose this season, Lambert has 3 goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 29 games, which puts him tied for 2nd on the team in points.

The Jets lineup continues to get closer to full health, but tonight Nikolaj Ehlers will be out due to illness. Brad Lambert slots in as the 4th line centre, and Alex Iafallo moves up to the 2nd line spot that Ehlers would normally play on. Adam Lowry was placed on IR a few days ago with an upper body injury. Lowry’s current status is “week to week”, but the Jets recently got other members of their roster back healthy to make up for Lowry’s hopefully short absence.

As you may already know, I’ve been enjoying watching the Jets sit at the top of the NHL league standings. Unfortunately, due to a hot streak from the Washington Capitals, the Jets have slipped to 2nd overall in the standings with 67 points, 4 back of the Capitals. More importantly, the Jets hold a 7 point lead over the Wild in the Central division, who have played 1 less game than the Jets. In the Western conference standings, the Jets hold a 3 point lead at the top of the standings over the surging Vegas Golden Knights.

One of the upcoming NHL milestones comes from Jets forward Mark Scheifele. The 31-year centre needs just 3 assists to reach 450 assists in his career. While that number may not seem as special as it really is, 450 assists would put Scheifele in the top 250 for career assists in NHL history. Reaching this milestone tonight would take a great game from number 55, but whether or not he reaches this milestone tonight, just know that it’s rapidly approaching.

Winnipeg will be out for revenge against the “new” team from Utah who currently is on a 3 game win streak. The momentum from the Jets big win against the Avalanche should give them enough positive vibes to avoid making the same mistakes they made against Utah on Monday night. I feel like tonight will be a big night for the Jets top line, and hopefully at the end of the night the Jets will pick up their 2nd straight win.