Stars need an answer for Laine
Goals automatic when Jets sniper faces division rival
Sixteen career games against Dallas. Eighteen goals.
It doesn’t get any more dominant than that for Winnipeg Jets sniper Patrik Laine. Conversely, it doesn’t get much more embarrassing for the Stars, who simply don’t have an answer for the Finn.
Laine’s one-goal, one-assist performance in a 5-1 win over the Stars on Tuesday gives him 27 points so far this season.
Laine told reporters after the game he wishes he could play Dallas all 82 games of the season and thanked a higher power that they’re at least in the Central Division.
Scoring against the Stars has become automatic for Laine. The Stars need to stop him today, lest they drop four crucial points in a tight division battle with the Jets.
Here are five things to watch for when the Jets line up against the Stars in Dallas:
1.
Stop the rush
There won’t be a more motivated team today than the Stars. Their coach essentially said they stink, and apologized to his goaltender on their behalf. Then there’s that little bit of bulletin board material after Laine’s comments. And, of course, there’s the fact they got spanked 5-1 in an important divisional game. Expect the Stars to come out strong, which means the Jets must match their intensity as Dallas tries to salvage something from this home-and-home series.
2.
Vezina contender
Connor Hellebuyck followed up his impressive November — 8-21 record, a .944 save percentage and a 1.85 goals-against average — with a 27-save performance on Tuesday. Nothing seems to faze the Michigan native lately. He’s stymied team after team and he’s not even being asked to steal games anymore.
3.
Jets killer
If someone is going to pierce Hellebuyck’s armour, it will likely be Tyler Seguin. In 39 career games against the Jets, Seguin has tortured Winnipeg to the tune of 24 goals and 43 points. The only good news for the Jets is that he’s in a slump. Seguin has no points in four straight outings.
4.
Offence on fire
The Jets have counted 14 goals in their past four games as they continue to find their offensive stride. They’ve built this season on a defence-first mindset, and while that’s still the case, they seem much more confident in taking the puck up the ice now than they did at the beginning of the season. They have become a team that’s dictating the game to their opponents.
5.
Rockin’ on the road
The Jets sport a 10-5-0 record on the road this season, tied for the second-most wins away from their home barn in the league. The Jets have yet to lose consecutive games on the road, a record that will be put to the test after their 2-1 loss at Los Angeles last Saturday. Laine has factored into their hot record away from Winnipeg, scoring four times while adding 13 assists in 15 games this season.