Jets aim to avoid another home-ice dud

With seven goals in four games, Arizona’s offence hasn’t put fear into opposing goalies yet.

Just five different players have put the puck in the net for the Coyotes, with Nick Schmaltz and Conor Garland doing it twice each.

With better help from his defence than Laurent Brossoit got on Sunday, Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck hopes to limit the damage when Winnipeg (4-3) plays host to Arizona (1-2-1) on Tuesday.

Here are 5 Things to Watch for when Winnipeg and Arizona line up in the Manitoba capital:

1.

Erase the Memory of Sunday Dropping a 7-2 dud on home ice isn’t the end of the world, but if you follow it up with another stinker you might be able to see it from there. Jets fans expect much better than they saw against the Penguins. Toss in the fact the Coyotes are 0-10 at Winnipeg’s barn and another poor performance could bring out the boo birds.

2.

Bounce-back from the Top Line Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele were a team-worst minus-4 against Pittsburgh, a tough night no matter what you think of the plus-minus stat. The dynamic duo, along with Patrik Laine, have been carrying the offensive load, but a rebound, two-way performance is likely, and needed, by the home side.

3.

Time to Get Grinders Involved Adam Lowry’s line, with Mark Letestu and Gabriel Bourque, remains without a goal this season. Perhaps coach Paul Maurice’s line-juggling for the last half of Sunday’s game will carry over, as he looks for a little more from his bottom six. Too many forwards didn’t register a single shot against the Pens.

4.

About That Power Play

The Jets went 1-for-6 on Sunday and actually improved their percentage. The problem, though, has been giving up chances. Opposing teams have managed three short-handed goals against Winnipeg.

5.

Eye on the Blue-line

Maurice wanted things to get tougher for opposing forwards in front of the Jets net, and so far it hasn’t happened. Reinserting 18-year-old Ville Heinola probably isn’t the answer, but it’ll be interesting to see what the Jets do. He’s allowed four more games before he begins burning the first year of his contract, something the organization might not be willing to do.