Thomas' Three Storylines - WPG @ VGK

APPLETON OPPORTUNISTIC
With the injury to Nikolaj Ehlers, the door opened for Mason Appleton to play on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. Appleton didn't look out of place at all, playing to his strengths and keeping his game simple. The Wisconsin product recorded his first two points of the season with a couple of helpers including the assist on the overtime winning goal by Neal Pionk. Appleton separated Nathan MacKinnon from the puck with a well-timed hit and shoveled the puck to Pionk and the Jets defenceman did the rest.

SHORT SHIFTS
The Jets are completing their first set of back-to-back games of the season in Las Vegas tonight. It will be important that they keep their shifts short against the Golden Knights because they played last night and will play again Saturday against the Maple Leafs. Winnipeg did a great job of that in Denver Wednesday outside of a couple shifts against the Avalanche top line which eventually ended up with the puck in the back of their net.
DEFEND THE MIDDLE
After having a tough time defending the middle of the ice against the Dallas Stars, the Jets improved in that department against Colorado. The team had 25 blocked shots led by Brendan Dillon's six. With Bruce Cassidy leading the way for the Vegas Golden Knights this season, the home side is averaging just under 35 shots per game early into 2022-23. Winnipeg will need to carry over their efforts from Wednesday to contain an always dangerous forward group led by Jack Eichel.