Star centres clash on New Year’s Eve
Two of the highest-scoring centres in the NHL will go head-tohead for the third time this season when Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele lines up against Oilers superstar Connor Mcdavid at Edmonton’s Rogers Place on Monday.
Mcdavid is fourth in league scoring with 56 points, while Scheifele is tied for ninth with 49.
Mcdavid has two goals and six points in the two previous games this season against Winnipeg, while Scheifele has two goals and four points.
Here are five things to watch for when the Central Division-leading Jets (24-12-2) face Edmonton (18-17-3), sixth in the Pacific Division, in Monday’s tilt:
1. The rubber match
The Jets and Oilers have played twice in Winnipeg this season with both games going to overtime and ending in 5-4 scores. Defenceman Darnell Nurse scored the winner for Edmonton in the first meeting and blue-liner Josh Morrissey got the winner in the second meeting for Winnipeg. This has the potential to be another barnburner on New Year’s Eve.
2. Who gets the net?
Jets coach Paul Maurice said Sunday he had yet to decide which of his goaltenders would get the start in Edmonton. On one hand he has the option of using No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who has had ample rest and will get another break ahead of the Jan. 4 game in Pittsburgh. On the other he has Laurent Brossoit, who has played extremely well this season and is a former Oiler.
3. Picking up the slack
With Dustin Byfuglien out of the lineup for at least a month with an injury, the Jets’ defensive depth will be tested. Joe Morrow draws into Monday’s game and players like Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Morrissey are sure to see increased minutes. Nobody can truly replace Byfuglien, however.
4. Pour it on
The Oilers have lost five straight and have been outscored 25-13 over that span. They shook things up Sunday by making a couple of trades, sending Chris Wideman to the Florida Panthers for Alex Petrovic and then dealing Drake Caggiula and Jason Garrison to Chicago for Brandon Manning and Robin Norell. The Jets have scored only one goal in four of the last five games, but with the way the Oilers have defended lately — and played goal — there should be plenty of opportunities for the visitors to put pucks in the net with both Mikko Koskinen and Cam Talbot struggling mightily.
5. Power up
The Jets have the league’s second-best power play and the Oilers have the NHL’S 26th best penalty kill, so this is a good opportunity for the Jets to do some damage. Patrik Laine broke out of a minislump with a power play goal Saturday, but the Jets will have a new look to their man-advantage units with Byfuglien out. Morrissey will likely be on the point with the top unit, while Myers will anchor the second unit.