GAME DAY: Jets look to extend home winning streak tonight vs. Blackhawks

Be sure to catch the JetsTV Live Pre-Game Show with Jamie Thomas, Mitchell Clinton & more beginning at 6:00pm CT right here on WinnipegJets.com and the Jets mobile app, as well as YouTube and Facebook Live.
WINNIPEG - The Central Division standings may have the Winnipeg Jets ahead of tonight's opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks, but Tyler Myers says any meeting with the Blackhawks is still a measuring stick type of game.
"Even with some of their tough goings this year, what they've done the last six years, they have a certain pedigree to them," said Myers. "It makes you more aware of some of the guys they have over there on their side. A big part of it, the way we've approached teams with some big players - especially up front - is just trying to limit their time and space with a good gap. Focusing on something as simple as that has helped us out a lot.
"In terms of who we're playing on any given night, we try to prepare the same way."

Tonight's tilt with the 15-11-6 Blackhawks is the first of five meetings between the two teams, and one of three at Bell MTS Place.
With Monday's 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, the Jets tied franchise records for consecutive wins on home ice (with seven), and longest point streak at home (11 games, going 10-0-1 in that span).
"I think our starts have been real big for us. We've come out with a lot of energy, it's nice to be at home and it's nice to have our fans behind us," said Matt Hendricks. "We've found a little bit of comfort here on home ice. It's our job in here to keep that going."
Despite Dmitry Kulikov and Jacob Trouba not taking part in the morning skate, head coach Paul Maurice says the two defenceman are good to go, and will join the same line-up as the one that produced Monday's win:
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Ehlers-Little-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Tanev
Perreault-Hendricks-Armia
Morrissey-Trouba
Kulikov-Myers
Chiarot-Poolman
The Blackhawks are in Winnipeg as part of a quick one-game trip away from the United Center. Chicago has won each of their last three games, including Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Florida Panthers.
"The style of game that they play, and the ability to play that game with their elite players still seems to be strong," said Maurice. "They're fast, they have a really skilled group. They've had some turnover, so there's an adjustment period, and we've all gone through bringing younger guys into our line-up. If you're off by five feet, they're going to beat you."

Thursday's game is the first of four straight games against Central Division opponents for the Jets (18-8-5). After last season's success against divisional opponents (19-8-2, tied with Chicago for the best divisional record), the Jets have won five of seven against the Central this campaign.
"For me every game is the same, no matter who we play against," said Nikolaj Ehlers, who has goals in three straight games. "It's going to be good to see how we're standing with division. The next four are important, the next 50 are important. It's exciting."
Connor Hellebuyck (16-3-4, 0.920 save percentage) was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate, and is expected to get the start in goal for the Jets, with puck drop set for 7 pm CT.

ICE CHIPS
With Dustin Byfuglien out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the Jets moved the veteran defenceman to injured reserve and recalled Julian Melchiori from the Manitoba Moose this morning.
The 26-year-old Melchiori has played in 26 games for the Moose this season, scoring four goals and adding eight assists.
Over the last four seasons, Melchiori has played in 30 NHL games, including 18 in 2016-17.
- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
JETS GAME NOTES
Tonight's Game
The Winnipeg Jets finish a two-game homestand tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks...The Jets beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Monday to begin the homestand...After tonight's game, the Jets play the St. Louis Blues in a home-and home set Saturday and Sunday before embarking on a three-game road trip next week against the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders to end their pre-Christmas schedule.
Jets vs. Blackhawks Notes
- The Jets went 1-4 against the Blackhawks during the 2015-16 season, but flipped the table and went 4-1 against the Blackhawks during the following 2016-17 season.
- The Jets are 15-for-16 (93.7%) on the penalty kill in their last five games against Chicago.
- Bryan Little is on a four-game point streak against the Blackhawks with five total points (3G, 2A).
- Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 4-2-0 with a 1.69 GAA and .948 SV% against the Blackhawks.
- Blake Wheeler has a team-leading 18 points (9g, 9a) in 23 career games against the Blackhawks, while Dustin Byfuglien has 14 points (4g, 10a) in 21 games against the team that drafted him.
Friendly Confines
The Jets have won seven straight games at Bell MTS Place and are unbeaten in regulation in their last 11 games at home (10-0-1) - both of which have tied franchise records established when the team was in Atlanta...The Jets hold down one of the best home records in the NHL this season at 11-2-1, good for a .821 points percentage....Winnipeg's last loss in regulation at home was nearly two months ago - Oct. 17 vs. CBJ 5-2 L...Winnipeg has played the fourth fewest home games in the NHL this season at 14...The Jets are clicking at 35.3% (18-for-51) on the power play at home, which is second best in the NHL...Winnipeg is 9-for-18 (50.0%) on the power play in their last four home games.
Limiting the Opposition
Monday's game marked the 16th time in 18 wins this season that the Jets held their opposition to two goals or less...Winnipeg has allowed one goal or less in 10 of the 18 victories...Overall this season, the Jets have held their opponent to two goals or less in 18 of 31 games, which includes a pair of 2-1 overtime losses...The Jets have outscored their opposition 61-36 in 14 games for a per game average of 4.36-2.57.
Against the Central
Tonight marks the first of four games against fellow Central Division opponents...After going 19-8-2 against its Central Division counterparts last season, Winnipeg is 5-1-1 against the Central to start this season, picking up three wins against Minnesota and two against the Dallas Stars...The Jets tied for a share of the best record in games played within the Central Division last season, as the Chicago Blackhawks also went 19-8-2 in divisional games...The Jets also had a winning record against every Central Division team, except the Wild (1-4-0)...Dating back to last season, the Jets have the best record in games between Central Division teams at 24-9-3.
Middling December
After posting the second-best record in the NHL in November with a 9-3-2 mark, the Jets have started December with a 3-2-1 mark, which is tied for eighth in the NHL...During the past three seasons, the Jets have hovered around .500 in December with a combined record of 15-15-2 since 2015...Winnipeg's best record in December was 10-3-1 during the 2011-12 season.
Faceoff Prowess
Thanks to leading the NHL in faceoff winning percentage in December at 58.4%, the Jets have climbed to third in the NHL with a 52.7% faceoff winning percentage for the season...During the past eight games, the Jets have won 58.3% (284 of-487) of their faceoffs...The Jets have won more than 50% of the faceoffs in each of their past eight games.
Point-Per-Game Perreault
Mathieu Perreault led the Jets in Monday's win with a pair of goals and an assist for his second three-point game and fifth multi-point game of the season...He notched his 100th career goal in the final seconds...Since returning to the lineup on Nov. 16 after missing a month due to injury, Perreault has 15 points (8G, 7A) in 14 games, which is tied for the team lead in scoring with Blake Wheeler during that time period...On the season, Perreault is average 0.95 points per game, which is a career high.
Helle Hot at Home
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck remains undefeated at home with a 11-0-1 record for an NHL-best .958 winning percentage at home...His .930 save percentage at home is tied for fifth among goalies that have played at least 20 games this season...Hellebuyck has also benefited from an average of 4.74 goal support per game, which leads NHL goaltenders that have played 20 games this season.
Central Snipers
Mark Scheifele leads the NHL with 14 points (6G, 8A) in seven games against Central Division teams, while Blake Wheeler is third with 12 points (2G, 10A) in seven games...Scheifele has a point in all seven games against the Central Division this season.
Jets vs. Blackhawks All-Time Records
Overall: 12-14-5
At Bell MTS Place: 2-5-2
At United Center: 8-6-1