Jets looking to turn things around at MTS Centre

Tuesday, 03.12.2013 / 2:14 PM

By Patrick Williams - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Jets at long last can unpack and settle back in at home for a game Tuesday evening against the Toronto Maple Leafs at MTS Centre after spending nearly three weeks on the road.

The Jets (12-11-2) survived a stretch of nine of 11 games away from home, going 6-2-1 and holding themselves firmly in contention in the Eastern Conference.

However, coach Claude Noel panned his club's effort in a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils that ended the Jets' four-game road trip Sunday. Noel benched Alexander Burmistrov for most of the second half of the loss, with the third-year center logging a season-low 9:22 of ice time against the Devils. Burmistrov remained on the ice long after the Jets' morning skate concluded, and Noel termed his status a "game-time decision." Chris Thorburn will likely replace Burmistrov.

The Jets will be back on home ice, where they have struggled this year and own four wins in their first 10 home games.

"We have to do a lot better at home in a lot of ways," Noel said. "Teams are ready to play in this building. I think it motivates the opposition. We have to get our fans involved in the game, especially early. The starts are really important. We have to get them on our side and do that with our play."

Noel will again start Ondrej Pavelec for the 12th time in the Jets' past 13 games after he delivered a 27-save performance against the Devils.

Winnipeg remains without injured defenseman Tobias Enstrom, who has been out since Feb. 15 with a shoulder injury. Noel said the Enstrom could resume skating with the club in the next week. A return date for Anthony Peluso (hand) is on a "week-to-week" basis, according to Noel.

Here is what the Jets' line-up could look like Tuesday:

Andrew Ladd – Bryan Little – Blake Wheeler

Evander Kane – Olli Jokinen – Kyle Wellwood

James Wright – Nik Antropov – Antti Miettinen

Eric Tangradi – Jim Slater – Chris Thorburn

Grant Clitsome – Dustin Byfuglien

Ron Hainsey – Zach Bogosian

Mark Stuart – Derek Meech

Ondrej Pavelec

Al Montoya

Injured: Tobias Enstrom (shoulder), Anthony Peluso (hand), Zach Redmond (thigh)

Scratched: Alexander Burmistrov, Paul Postma