Special teams central in clash
Man advantage fuels Jets, Wild are top penalty killers
Thursday’s tilt between the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild will showcase two of the better special teams units in the National Hockey League.
Ranked second in the NHL, the Jets’ power play was back in fine form against Colorado on Tuesday, scoring three times on four chances.
The Wild come in as a top-five penalty-killing team, but gave up two in their last game. Against Minnesota last year, Winnipeg scored five power-play goals in four regular-season games, plus three more in the playoffs. Here are five things to watch for when the Wild host the first-place Jets in this Central Division battle:
1. Back to grinding
After a wide-open affair against Colorado, the Jets have to be prepared to go back to the grinder style favoured by head coach Paul Maurice, and the Wild. That means more patience and simplicity in their game, not looking for the pretty play, and being prepared to create some ugly goals.
2. The top guns
Winnipeg ’s top producers, Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, scored on Colorado, while Kyle Connor and Bryan Little have broken out of slumps. Many of Minnesota’s top guns have been silent, including Mikael Granlund (one goal in 16 games), Nino Niederreiter (no goals in 11), Eric Staal (one in 11) and Jason Zucker (one in 14).
3. Laine’s lament
Jets sniper Patrick Laine is in one of the driest spells of his career, with just four goals in his last 18 games. Laine lamented his contribution and confidence level in a media scrum before the Jets boarded a plane for St. Paul. In the past, that’s helped him break out.
4. Message time
After the Jets dominated Minnesota last season — going 7-2, season and playoffs combined — the Wild have won both meetings this season. With another post-season meeting possible, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to nip any potential psychological edge in the bud.
5. Ignore the shot clock
With these two teams, it doesn’t matter who’s getting more rubber on net. Both seem better off letting the opponent expend energy with shots on goal. The Jets are 15-7-2 when out-shot, the Wild an equally impressive 11-4-2.
KARLSSON ON A ROLL
It took Erik Karlsson some time to adjust after the star defenceman was traded to San Jose from Ottawa. Consider the two-time Norris Trophy winner adjusted. Karlsson had three assists in Tuesday’s 7-2 blowout win over Edmonton, his 14th straight game with at least one assist. Karlsson has one goal and 14 assists in his last six games.
The goaltending duo that helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup in 2015 and 2016 is on a quite a run. Matt Murray is 8-0-0 in his last eight appearances with a .963 save percentage and a 1.24 goals-against average. Marc-Andre Fleury, now in his second season with Vegas, is 9-0-3 over his last 12 outings thanks to a .921 save percentage and a 2.32 GAA.