Watch for Scheifele showdown with Kesler
WINNIPEG • When the Anaheim Ducks fly into Bell MTS Place on Friday to battle the Winnipeg Jets, the big matchup will pit Mark Scheifele against Ryan Kesler.
The Jets’ top- line centre has two assists in two games since returning from his second upper-body injury of the campaign. He’ll be going up against a guy he became well acquainted with during a 2015 playoff series.
Kesler has battled injuries this season, but still knows how to get under the skin of an opponent and is a strong two-way player.
Winnipeg owns a 44-19-10 record, good for second in the Central Division behind Nashville.
Anaheim, winners of four straight, are 38-24-12, and sit third in the Pacific Division.
Here are five things to watch for:
1
Connor rolling: By scoring both goals in Tuesday’s 2-1 OT win over the Los Angeles Kings, Jets rookie left-winger Kyle Connor moved into sole possession of second place in the NHL rookie scoring race (27) and is just two behind injured Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser. Connor has 46 points in 67 games and is fifth in team scoring. More importantly, he’s shown great consistency. 2 Welcome back Jack: After sitting out two games as a healthy scratch, Jets rookie forward Jack Roslovic is expected to return to the lineup with Patrik Laine sidelined with a foot injury. Roslovic, who missed Thursday’s workout with flu-like symptoms, has four goals and 12 points in 29 games and wants to regain his spot in the rotation. 3 Solve Gibson: Ducks goalie John Gibson is also in a groove, starting 55 games while posting a record of 29-17- 6 with four shutouts, a 2.41 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. In his past 16 games, Gibson is 12-3-1 with 1.79 GAA and a .943 save percentage. The Jets will start goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who should be feeling refreshed after Eric Comrie started Tuesday. Hellebuyck has already set a career-high for appearances (60), games started (57), shutouts (six) and set a franchise record for wins (37). 4 Slump buster? Jets forward Mathieu Perreault is going through his longest stretch this season without a point (14 games), but he’s always geared up to face his former team. The versatile forward is one of eight forwards on the roster in double digits in goals (16). Perreault has six assists in 13 games against the Ducks during his career.
5 Keep top line in
check: Veterans Ryan Getzlaf (11 goals, 56 points) and Corey Perry (16 goals, 44 points) have been reunited on the first line with Rickard Rakell, who has quietly put up 31 goals and 63 points, leading his team in both categories.