MONTREAL - The Winnipeg Jets conclude a quick two-game road trip tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Jets (4-3-0) are coming off a 4-1 win in Detroit on Thursday, the club's third consecutive victory after starting the season 1-3-0.
The details that helped the Jets to that victory over the Red Wings - who were 5-0-1 in their last six before Thursday - will be equally as important tonight, according to associate coach Scott Arniel.
"A young team that has some top-end skill that plays a transition and fast game. If we turn pucks over against them, you can spend a lot of time in your end of the rink," Arniel said after the morning skate at Bell Centre. "Our puck management will have to be big. They can really get up and go, and we have to make sure we’re real solid without the puck tonight."
No changes are expected in the Jets line-up in terms of skaters. The only change will come in goal, where Laurent Brossoit will get his second start of the season.
Brossoit stopped 22 of 26 shots against his former club, the Vegas Golden Knights, back on October 19 in his first appearance this season.
In front of him, the lines will look like this:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Kupari-Gustafsson
Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Schmidt
BARRON BROTHERS
Tonight marks the second time that Jets forward Morgan Barron will take on his brother, Justin, in a National Hockey League game.
"It’s a lot of fun. It’s probably my parents’ favourite weekend of the year, or day I guess," Barron said. "It’s always fun to play him. He’s had a good stretch of a few games here, so I’m excited to see it in person."
Justin has two goals in four games with the Canadiens this season, and in the only other meeting against Morgan, he had two assists.
The older brother, Morgan, also has two goals this season, so bragging rights will be on the line tonight.
"I think they’re mic’d up tonight," said Arniel with a grin. "Mom and dad are in the building. I know they’re tied in scoring. Our Bear wants to make sure he has more than him."
Morgan did say it will be a lot more difficult to spot his parents in the crowd tonight.
"I don’t think they liked being on TV so much last time," he said with a grin. "So they’re going to try and hide from (the cameras) I think."
CARRY THE POSITIVES
Despite the fact the Jets were outshot 19-8 in the third period against Detroit, the bench stayed positive and it translated to the play on the ice.
"t seemed like they were taking it to us. I like how we didn’t get lost in that. We were able to bounce back," said Barron. "(Arniel) was on the bench talking about 'bend don’t break,' and that summarized it well. We were able to stay together and once we got a few more opportunities, we capitalized on them."
