Wild Game Day number 8
Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (4-2-1)
Site: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Time: 6:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 11/17 Jets 3 @ Wild 4 (OT) 12/27 Jets 4 @ Wild 3 (OT) 12/29 Wild 3 @ Jets 2 2/10 Wild 1 @ Jets 2 (OT) 4/6 Jets 2 @ Wild 0
Coming off their most dominate performance of the year, a 3-0 shutout of the Ducks, the Wild travel north of the border to take on Central Division rival Winnipeg. The Jets are off to a very good start and are looking for a return trip to the playoffs. Last season marked the first trip to the playoffs for this incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets (formerly the Atlanta Thrashers), ultimately losing to the Ducks in 4 games.
The Jets play a very exciting up tempo brand of hockey. In the past, Winnipeg, has gone how the Bryan Little, Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd line went, if they scored the Jets were in the game, but not much secondary scoring. That is very different now with the maturation of some of their younger players as well as some new additions.
Nikolaj Ehlers is only 7 games into his NHL career, but has already gotten the attention of the Jets opponents that have witnessed this skilled rookie. He has some incredible ability and appears to be gaining more confidence every game . Ehlers has produced some early highlight reel moves and is a threat to create a scoring chance every time he steps on the ice. Mark Sheifele is another of the Jets younger players who has steadily improved in each of his first 2 seasons, finishing with 15 goals and 49 points a year ago. Sheifele, the Jets first round draft pick from 2011 and 7th overall, gives the Jets that second scoring line they have desperately needed to compete on a nightly basis.
The Jets defense is very mobile and multi-dimensional. They have size with Tyler Myers and Dustin Byfuglien, and speed with Jacob Trouba and Tobias Enstrom. The Jet like to activate their defense and their transition game is high end.
The Wild and Jets are building quite a rivalry, and not just due to the geographic proximity of the two fan bases. They are now very closely matched talentwise and every time they meet the games are hotly contested. The Wild went 2-1-2 against the Jets a year ago, with 4 of the games being decided by a single goal and 3 of the 5 contests settled in overtime.
The Jets come in rested as they did not play Saturday, while the Wild were beating the Ducks, then had to travel to Winnipeg following the game. The Wild will need to find their legs early in order to get off to a good start. Many times teams that play the night before then travel experience some heavy legs early in the back end game. Mike Yeo needs to have his team ready to compete immediately tonight. The Jets crowd is very vocal and often help the Jets to set the tone early. The Wild will need to try to get take the crowd out of the game with their play.
Darcy Kuemper will be in goal for the Wild and Michael Hutchinson is expected to play for the Jets. These teams don't like each other very much, given the talent levels they should be very close in the standings all season. That always leads to spirited play, and some extra snarl by both teams. Special teams may very well be the difference.
Let's Play Hockey!