Jets will try to slow down Hall
N. J. winger is serious Hart contender
The Winnipeg Jets are about to test a theory: Can good defensive players shut down a good offensive player?
Thursday’s game pits Winnipeg’s shutdown pairing of Josh Morrissey and Dustin Byfuglien against the rejuvenated Taylor Hall.
The New Jersey Devils left- winger, who was the first overall pick of the 2010 NHL draft, has emerged as a serious Hart Trophy candidate and has collected at least a point in 26 consecutive games, so he’s tough to contain.
The Devils sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division at 34-25- 8, but have a minus- 4 goal differential, scoring 199 times but allowing 203 tallies. Winnipeg, second in the Central Division at 40-17- 9, are a plus- 48 ( 223 goals for, 175 against).
Here are 5 Things to watch for when the Jets tangle with the Devils in New Jersey:
1 Laine keeps scoring: Jets sniper Patrik Laine is riding a ninegame point streak and he’s produced 13 goals and 19 points during that stretch. With 38 goals, Laine has moved into second place in the chase for the Rocket Richard Trophy behind Alex Ovechkin (40). The other big development for Laine is that after producing a good chunk of his early goals on the power play, 10 of those 13 during the streak have come at even strength (with only one coming into an empty net).
2 There was no update on the status of Jets centre Mark Scheifele, but the smart money is that he will miss at least one game with an upper-body injury. Scheifele left Tuesday’s game with the New York Rangers late in the second period with a suspected issue with his right collarbone. During the first period, Scheifele collided with linemate Blake Wheeler in the neutral zone.
Scheifele was on the receiving end of a couple of hard bodychecks in the con- test and before he made his way to the dressing room, cameras caught him mouthing the words “collarbone” and “hard to breathe” to a member of the Jets medical staff.
3 Fitting right in: Jets centre Paul Stastny hasn’t needed much time to fit in since being acquired in a deadline-deal with the St. Louis Blues. Stastny had the game-winning goal in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Carolina and added an assist on Tuesday to give him two goals and five points in four games.
4 Chiarot streaking: Jets defenceman Ben Chiarot has been playing well in his own zone recently, providing a physical presence and he’s also chipping in offensively. With a goal and four points, Chiarot is riding a four-game point streak (the longest of his career) and is up to one goal and 10 points in 41 games this season.
5 Rookies rolling: The Devils are receiving a solid contribution from a trio of rookies. Nico Hischier, the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft, has come as advertised and is second in team scoring behind Hall, fellow forward Jesper Bratt is third in points and tied for fourth in goals, while defenceman Will Butcher has provided some offensive punch, recording 32 points (including 16 on the power play).