Trouba awaits Capitals’ Ovechkin
Jets defenceman tasked with getting in the sniper’s way
WINNIPEG While it’s usually the play of a five-man unit that’s required to try to minimize the damage inflicted by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba has the primary responsibility of getting into the shooting lane and limiting his time and space when Winnipeg plays host to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Ovechkin has feasted on the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers during his career, recording 47 goals and 91 points in 63 career games.
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is set to make his sixth consecutive start Wednesday. The Capitals are expected to start Braden Holtby after backup Pheonix Copley got the call Tuesday against the Wild.
Here are five things to watch for on Wednesday:
1.
Finding their form
The Jets’ top line of Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers is on a serious roll, combining for seven goals and 19 points during the last three games. Wheeler is riding a 10-game point streak that has seen him rack up two goals and 19 points during that stretch, moving him into a tie for top spot in the NHL in assists (20) and a spot in the top five in points (23) as of Monday.
2.
Getting offensive
Although things have started with better puck management and improved play in the defensive zone, the Jets have found their offensive groove, tallying 10 goals in the last two games to raise their goals per game average to 3.2 — which is just below the 3.3 per game average the Jets finished with last season, when they were second in the NHL in goals scored with 273.
3.
D is for discipline
When you consider the Jets and Capitals are first and second in the NHL on the power play with 2.5 percentage points separating them, you can be sure both teams will attempt to limit the number of trips to the penalty box on Wednesday. The Jets had scored at least once in 11 consecutive games before that streak was snapped on Sunday, when they were limited to one abbreviated opportunity with the man advantage.
4.
Sign of respect
The Capitals obviously had this game circled on the calendar as well since head coach Todd Reirden decided to start his backup goalie in the front end of their back-to-back situation, giving Holtby the game against the Jets. Holtby is off to a slow start (3.24 goals-against average, .900 save percentage in 13 games), but is 10-3-2 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 15 games against the Jets during his career.
5.
Still searching
Although Jets sniper Patrik Laine is up to eight goals and 10 points this season, he’s still searching for his first even-strength goal of the season. Laine has seven goals on the power play and one into an empty net, but he’s accumulated a team-high 64 shots on goal through 16 games, so it’s not from a lack of opportunities.