GAMEDAY: Kraken at Jets

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets return to Canada Life Centre for their final two home games of the regular season this week, starting Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The Jets are coming off a perfect 4-0-0 road trip, which ended with a 7-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon.

The Jets need one point to clinch home ice advantage for their opening round series with the Avalanche.

"To get home ice against a really good Colorado team I think could go a long way," said Mason Appleton.

"So, I think we’ll do everything we can to get a point tonight and that’ll take the pressure off game 82 so that’d be real nice here."

Appleton and Adam Lowry should have their normal left winger back this evening as it is expected that Nino Niederreiter will play for the first time since April 1. Niederreiter received a cut on his leg that night and has missed the last five contests. Tyler Toffoli and David Gustafsson filled in while the 31-year-old healed.

"Obviously we’re excited to have Nino back. He was pumped to be back. He avoided, could’ve been something scary. So yeah he’s chomping at the bit to get back in the lineup," said Appleton.

"But yeah I thought (Gustaffson) these last couple games, he did heck of a job. You know whenever you’re coming into the lineup like that it’s not the easiest task and you know he played his butt off and he was very effective in his role."

Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal for the Jets.

Winnipeg certainly seems to be peaking at the right time of year. During their six-game winning streak they have gone 33.3% on the power play and boast an 84.6% penalty kill. Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit have combined to post a 1.67 goals-against average and .947 save percentage this month.

"Yeah, I think we're playing really good hockey right now," said Dylan Samberg.

"All the way down to our goalies who have been tremendous last couple games. And I think we want to keep building or playing well now, but we're never satisfied."

Winnipeg is 6-2-0 against Seattle since the Kraken entered the NHL, winning the first four meetings. The five of the past six games between the Jets and Kraken have been decided by one goal. Even though the Kraken are out of the playoff picture, the Jets expect a competitive game.

"They have good speed, they have good depth, and they’re playing a very fast, up-tempo game," said Rick Bowness.

"There’s some guys probably fighting for jobs over there, but they went to the playoffs last year and won a round, and they’re all disappointed in their season. I’m sure they all want to finish this season on a high, positive note."

Appleton agrees with his coach on the dangers of playing a team that plays like they have nothing to lose.

"But I think that our game’s gonna try to stay the same but at the same time we’ve been told that they’ve been playing a high-pressure, run and gun game and playing real fast," said Appleton.

"So we’ll have to find a way to play against that every time we’ve played Seattle it’s been a really good game these past couple years so I don’t expect anything different tonight."