Captain Crosby leads Pens resurgence
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Close friends and former teammates at the University of Minnesota, Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler has grown into one of the best playmakers in the NHL, while Pittsburgh Penguins winger Phil Kessel is an elite goal scorer.
Wheeler was just selected to the NHL All-Star game for the second time and he’s third in the NHL in assists. He also has 10 goals and 24 points in 30 games against the Penguins. Kessel is on pace to equal the 34 goals and 92 points he produced last season and has 19 goals in 38 career games against the Jets. Here are 5 things to watch when the Penguins host the Jets on Friday:
Time to Build
The Jets are 12-6 on the road this season and are 7-1 against the Metropolitan Division so far. The Penguins have put a slow start behind them and a stretch of 11-3-1 in December pushed them above the playoff line and into third place in the Metropolitan.
Leading the way
It’s no surprise the Penguins resurgence has been led by captain Sidney Crosby, who has four goals, 14 assists and 18 points during the past 10 games to push him into the Top-10 in scoring with 50 points. Crosby has 17 goals and 53 points in 36 career games against the Jets.
Byfuglien’s absence
The Jets are 6-1 this season when defenceman Dustin Byfuglien has been sidelined. Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey will likely continue to eclipse 25 minutes of ice time per game, while Tyler Myers is taking on a larger responsibility with the big D-man expected to miss a month.
Cold Connor
Although he remains fourth on the Jets in goals and fifth in points, leftwinger Kyle Connor has cooled off. Connor has gone a season-high nine games without a point. Connor has 23 shots on goal during the drought, so it’s not like he’s been without opportunities.
Lemieux on the rebound
Jets left-winger Brendan Lemieux scored a pair of goals against Edmonton. Lemieux had been a healthy scratch in the two previous games. Although Lemieux’s streak of 12 consecutive games without taking a minor penalty came to a close, the feisty winger did enough to stay in the lineup.