Saturday night clash between conference leaders: Winnipeg Jets vs. Washington Capitals game day 54

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With slightly below 2 weeks earlier than the 2025 4 Nations face-off begins, the Jets play their ultimate sport on their present 3 sport street journey. Tonight’s matchup is an actual conflict of one of the best, as the highest 2 groups within the NHL league standings shall be underneath the highlight on this Saturday evening. Coming into tonight’s sport on a 5 sport win streak, the Jets placed on a efficiency to be pleased with with their 6-2 win in Boston on Thursday evening. The Capitals enter tonight’s sport 3-1-1 of their final 5 video games, they usually proceed to play nicely above pre season expectations.

Thursday evening’s win in Boston stored the Jets on the prime of the league standings for the tip of the 4th straight month. The Jets are 1 level forward of the Capitals, however the Jets have performed 53 video games already, tied for probably the most within the league. After the 2nd place Caps, there’s beginning to be a little bit of a cap between the subsequent set of fine groups. The Oilers, Hurricanes and Golden Knights all sit tied for third place general with 68 factors. Of their final 10 matchups, the Jets are solely 3-5-2 towards the Capitals. These 2 groups don’t play one another usually, and this shall be their 1st face to face because the Jets misplaced 3-0 in Washington on March twenty fourth, 2024.

Looking forward to the remainder of the Jets schedule earlier than the 4 Nations face-off break, the Jets play 2 video games, each at residence, over the subsequent week. The Jets will return residence on Tuesday to play the Carolina Hurricanes, that includes newly acquired Mikko Rantanen. Friday, February seventh, the Jets tackle the Islanders, who’re presently on the biggest win streak within the league presently at 6 video games. I’ll be in attendance for the Islanders sport, as I’m making the journey from Vancouver to Winnipeg subsequent week to take a look at my 1st Jets sport in Winnipeg. Keep tuned earlier than and after that sport, as I’ll be going over that sport intimately and my general expertise in Canada Life Centre.

Again to the Jets, the staff continues to be close to full-health, with solely 2 gamers on the present harm report. Adam Lowry was just lately confirmed to be out till after the 4 Nations face-off event with an upper-body harm. Morgan Barron’s harm standing was confirmed on Thursday, as Scott Arniel stated that he’s being thought of as “week-to-week” with an undisclosed harm. Anticipate the Jets to make use of to similar lineup as they did in Boston, together with Parker Ford who performed, and scored, in his 1st NHL sport on Thursday.

The anticipated (however unconfirmed) beginning goalies for tonight’s matchup are Connor Hellebuyck and Logan Thompson. Not solely is tonight’s sport a battle of the 2 greatest groups within the standings, however it’s additionally a battle of the highest 2 goalies by way of the entire essential goalie statistics. Hellebuyck leads the league with 32 wins, an excellent 2.00 GAA and a .927 save proportion with 6 shutouts. Thompson, recent off signing a 6-year, 31.5 million greenback deal on Monday, is an exception 23-2-3 this season. Not solely are the Capitals scoring at a a lot larger fee than they had been final season, however each of their goalies are enjoying to one of the best of their skills. Thompson has a 2.12 GAA, a .927 save proportion (tied with Hellebuyck) and a couple of shutouts. Tonight’s sport might be a basic low scoring goalie duo if Hellebuyck and Thompson play like they’ve all season up up to now.

Tonight’s puck drop on “Hockey Evening in Canada” is shortly after 6:00 pm CT. One milestone to observe for tonight includes Mark Scheifele. After scoring his thirty first purpose of the season on Thursday (good for 2nd within the league @ Staff Canada), Scheifele sits tied at 1st with Ilya Kovalchuk at 328 profession targets in Jets franchise historical past. Tonight could be an ideal evening to set the franchise report, particularly in entrance of a full crowd on a Saturday evening. Kyle Connor can also be getting additional consideration this season, as his 30 targets make him and Scheifele the first duo within the league this season to succeed in 30 targets every. I proceed to be merely amazed by the play of the Jets 1st line, as they proceed to push franchise data and profession bests. Verify again right here post-game for a sport recap and evaluation, and prepare to observe the Jets try to go for his or her sixth straight win.

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