Stopping Wheeler line key for Stars
Jets threesome can be opponents’ worst nightmare
Blake Wheeler’s line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Jack Roslovic has become an opposing team’s worst nightmare.
They’re lightning quick, for one. They can burn you with their playmaking ability and they possess Winnipeg’s top goal scorer in Ehlers.
Oh, and they’re pretty responsible in their own zone.
The Stars won’t have the last change when Dallas visits Winnipeg on Tuesday. So, who do the Stars put their top defensive pair of Esa Lindell and John Klingberg out against? Wheeler’s unit? Or the Jets’ top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine?
Couple that with the Stars’ current struggles to score and Wheeler’s line could cause Dallas fits at both ends of the ice.
Here are five things to watch for when the Stars line up against the Jets in Winnipeg:
1.
Keep ’em frustrated
The Stars were on one hell of a run during November, but now have just three goals in their past three games. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have combined for just three points during their past five games and Joe Pavelski has no points now in eight straight.
2.
Vezina contender
How’s this for the month of November? An 8-2-1 record, a .944 save percentage and a 1.85 goalsagainst average. Not too shabby, eh? Connor Hellebuyck continues to put in a season worthy of the league’s best goalie honours. He’s far and away Winnipeg’s MVP up to this point and a big reason why they have 16 wins and are fighting at the top of the division. Hellebuyck has some rest under his belt now, too.
3.
Jets killer
In 38 career games against the Jets, Seguin has tortured the Jets to the tune of 24 goals and 43 points. The only good news for the Jets when meeting Seguin occurs when he’s in a slump. And he currently is in a slump, with just two assists in his past five games and no points in three straight. If there was ever a team for Seguin to get back onto the scoresheet against, it’s the Jets.
4.
Lowry lull
Normally, when a player struggles to put up points the way Adam Lowry has this season, fans would be all over him. Lowry’s worth to the Jets extends far beyond his point totals, however. He centres the line the Jets look to most to stop the other team’s best players, so he gets a bit of a pass in the points department. Lowry has two goals and two assists in 25 games. The line gets a lot of offensive zone time, so it’s probably only a matter of time before those numbers improve. The Jets could use the secondary scoring.
5.
Home cooking
It doesn’t taste as good as the stuff on the road so far this season. Winnipeg’s 10-5-0 record on the road is one of the best in the NHL, and something that you normally see coming out of your home barn. Winnipeg’s record at Bell MTS Place is quite ordinary at 6-5-1.