JETS WELCOMED HOME WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry faces a big test against L.A. Kings centre Anze Kopitar. Add in Jets left-winger Andrew Copp against Kings right-winger Ilya Kovalchuk since the Lowry line will be charged with shutting down L.A.’s formidable duo. Here are five things to watch when the Kings play in Winnipeg Tuesday, Ted Wyman says. STAY DISCIPLINED
Nine minor penalties in the first two games are bad enough, but three power play goals against makes it worse. The priority for the Jets will be to stay out of the box, but second on the list is to shore up their penalty kill, which looked slow and poorly positioned in Saturday’s loss to the Dallas Stars.
“It’s just slow,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said Monday. “We’re trying to get the routes right at the expense of getting them done quickly. Maybe a little too aware, so we end up standing an awful lot. Not nearly enough pressure on the puck right from the entry.”
SHUT DOWN THE SHOOTERS
The Jets want Vezina-nominated goalie Connor Hellebuyck to have a heavy workload this year, but the first two games were a bit ridiculous. Hellebuyck has already faced 77 shots in his first two games and though he has a .922 save percentage, a goalie can’t be expected to make 35-40 saves every night. The Jets will look to cut that opposition shot total down to a much more reasonable number.
FEED OFF THE FANS
The home opener is always a big deal for the Jets and their fans. The Jets haven’t played a meaningful home game since late May, when they were eliminated in the Western Conference final by the Vegas Golden Knights. They’ll look to feed off the energy of a crowd with high expectations this season and put it to good use against the Kings.
BEST PLAYERS MUST BE THE BEST
Captain Blake Wheeler and assistant captain Dustin Byfuglien both had tough nights Saturday in Dallas, and both will look to rebound with much better performances against the Kings. The Jets need their topscoring forward and their most dynamic defenceman to be their best players regularly.
BEAT THE BACKUP
With Kings No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick on injured reserve, the Jets will face backup Jack Campbell. That certainly could present an opportunity for the home team to get some goals, though Campbell played well in a 4-2 win Sunday over the Detroit Red Wings. The Jets would be wise to put anything and everything at the net. Campbell will be backed up by former Jets farmhand Peter Budaj.