NASHVILLE - The Winnipeg Jets begin a three-game stretch away from home as they conclude the season series with the Nashville Predators tonight at Bridgestone Arena.
The Jets (47-24-6) secured their second 100-point season since relocating to Winnipeg with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. The win was also Winnipeg's third in a row, and put them just two points back of the Colorado Avalanche - another team they'll see on this road trip - for second spot in the Central Division.
As for the Predators (45-29-4), they picked up a 3-2 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday to put themselves seven points ahead of the St. Louis Blues in the playoff race (with four games to go for both teams). Nashville has won two of the three meetings with the Jets this season.
As much as the Jets would like to keep Nashville behind them in the standings, their focus is ahead of them. This three-game Central Division trek is a perfect opportunity to gain ground on the two teams they’re chasing - Dallas and Colorado, the next two stops on the trip.
Coming into Tuesday night, Colorado is two points up on the Jets and Dallas is seven.
“We want to push for the division title,” said DeMelo. “Until we can’t do it, we’re going to keep pushing for it. We’ll make sure our process is right, make sure our game is in the right spot. You don’t pick who you play in the playoffs, you just try and put together as many wins as you can and kind of let the chips fall where they fall.”
Since Nashville’s 16-0-2 run (which included a 4-2 win over Winnipeg at Canada Life Centre on March 13) they’ve gone 2-4-0. Still, the Jets know the importance of getting off to a good start in Nashville’s home rink.
“Get the face-off, get the puck in deep, and establish our forecheck so they can’t be coming at us,” said Bowness, listing the keys to that good start. “That’s key for every line. We get out there the first six, seven, or eight minutes and every shift you’re out there, go north. Go hard and don’t let them establish the game they want to play.”
Flip Forsberg is having a career year, across all the offensive categories, with 43 goals and 89 points. He’s led Nashville’s offence this season and has three goals and four points against the Jets this season.
The only player with more is Roman Josi, with five. In fact, since February 1, Josi’s 33 points are the second most (behind Evan Bouchard’s 36) among the NHL’s defencemen. Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey is fourth on that list with 29.
“He’s fearless. He’ll lead the rush, he’s coming up late. He’s very active at the o-zone blue line,” Bowness said of Josh. “He’s never where you expect him to be. He’s always moving. He’s in, he’s out, and he’s hard to find. When he gets that open ice he has the skill level and the hockey IQ to make plays.”
DeMelo, who has assists in four of his last five games, said regardless of who is on the ice for Nashville the focus for the Jets is to play their game.
And one of the keys to that is their depth.
“We’ve emphasized that we have great depth in our room,” he said. “When everybody is going and everybody is playing well, we feel we’re a really tough team to beat. If it’s not our fourth line (like in Minnesota), maybe it’s our third line that’s contributing, maybe it’s our second line, or maybe our top line.”
PROJECTED LINES
No changes are expected to the Jets line-up, with Connor Hellebuyck getting the start in goal:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Vilardi
Connor-Monahan-Perfetti
Toffoli-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Namestnikov-Iafallo
Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Stanley
DeMelo has started every game this season with Josh Morrissey on his left side. Well, all but the last three, where he was with Dylan Samberg (once, against Los Angeles) and Brenden Dillon for Calgary and Minnesota.
Late in the game against Minnesota, DeMelo was paired back up with Morrissey. The veteran defenceman, who has a career high of 29 points this season, says that shows the type of adaptability the Jets have on the blue line.
“It’s pretty much aa seamless fit for all three pairs,” said DeMeo. “At the end of the day, you have to bring what you bring to the table as an individual. Usually if you can do that and your partner can bring what he brings best, usually you’re going to do well as a pair.”
NIEDERREITER SIGHTING
Nino Niederreiter, who left the win over Los Angeles due to a skate cut, skated in the optional morning skate in Nashville.
“He skated today very lightly,” said Bowness. “The timeline is impossible to say. I talked to him and it was a little sore, a little sensitive as you’d expect. It was just good to see him back on the ice.”
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
