GAME DAY: Jets at Capitals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the second time on this four-game road trip, the Winnipeg Jets will go up against a team that has no regulation losses in their last six outings.
Two nights ago it was the Carolina Hurricanes (who were 5-0-1 in their last six before the Jets beat them 8-1). Tonight, it's the Washington Capitals, who are a perfect 6-0-0 since Feb. 24.
While the Jets certainly took a lot of confidence from the big win in Carolina, head coach Paul Maurice knows his team needs to recognize that tonight's game in Washington carries a different challenge.
"We have to get back to the starting point of the Carolina game, not the end point," said Maurice. "The skill level and the cohesiveness now of (the Capitals), they've played together for a while and they have a lot of experience in how to play tight games and certainly a level on how to find your weaknesses and find your open ice.
"If you're soft with the puck and your decisions, they'll counter on you very quickly."

Winnipeg will go with the same line-up tonight as they had on Friday night. The only change comes in goal, where Connor Hellebuyck will get the start.
Hellebuyck (28-18-2 with a 0.910 save percentage) was also between the pipes in the first meeting of the season between the Jets and Capitals, way back on Nov. 14 at Bell MTS Place.
The Jets picked up a 3-1 win that night, with Hellebuyck turning aside 27 of 28 shots.
Based on the line-up from Friday, the Jets lines are expected to look like this:
Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Hayes-Ehlers
Tanev-Lowry-Little
Perreault-Copp-Roslovic
Beaulieu-Trouba
Kulikov-Myers
Chiarot-Niku
With Lowry back in the fold following a two-game suspension to start the road trip, Maurice likes the depth throughout his forward group.
"We think that Andrew Copp's line doesn't have to be viewed as a fourth line," said Maurice. "There is skill on that line. It's a bit of a hybrid with Andrew in the middle it's a strong defensive line and there is a lot of skill there. We've been able to run it twice - Nashville at home and (Carolina) - we've liked the way we've looked doing it."
Part of that look features Bryan Little - who played centre the majority of the season - on the wing. It's a spot he played in during last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"It's been nice in terms of running the bench. You can run that face-off unit on either side in your own end and you have two strong draw men there," said Maurice.
"He's been just an unheralded pro in our room. It's not an easy thing to ask him to do what we did over the past two years - play with two young players that have very unique styles. They're hard to read off. He's been great."

At 40-21-7, the Capitals lead the Metropolitan Division by two points over the New York Islanders.
Pheonix Copley (14-5-3) will start in goal for Washington, after Braden Holtby shut out the New Jersey Devils two nights ago to open Washington's quick two-game home stand.
"They're going to come out hard. They're a good team," said Kyle Connor. "It's going to be a good test for us. Up and down the line-up they're pretty deep. We're looking forward to it."
Connor scored his 26th of the season against the Hurricanes and added an assist as well. He was also on the ice for two goals from his linemates Nikolaj Ehlers and Kevin Hayes. He believes the chemistry between the trio has grown over the course of the road trip.
"We learned a lot from each other from playing together these past couple games," said Connor. "Just learn from each other's game, try to read off it, and find chemistry. That's all that is - read the spots to be and anticipating when the puck will be there."
Puck drop from Capital One Arena is set for 6 pm CT.
ICE CHIPS
Joe Morrow participated in Sunday's optional skate in a non-contact jersey. However, Maurice said the challenge for Morrow's timeline to get back in the line-up is the lack of practice time the Jets have on their schedule.
--Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Today's Game
The Winnipeg Jets finish a four-game road trip tomorrow when they face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals...The Jets beat the Carolina Hurricanes 8-1 on Friday night to improve to 2-1 on the road trip...After tonight's game, the Jets return to Bell MTS Place for a three-game homestand, which begins Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks.
On the Road Again
Winnipeg is 18-15-0 on the road this season...The Jets haven't won back-to-back road games in 2019 and their past eight road games have alternated between a win and a loss...Winnipeg hasn't lost three consecutive road games in regulation since Dec. 10-20/16...Tomorrow ends a stretch of seven of nine games away from Bell MTS Place...After tomorrow's game, the Jets have an even seven home and seven road games remaining on their regular season schedule...Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in scoring on the road this season with 37 points (10G, 27A) in 33 games...Patrik Laine leads the Jets with 19 goals on the road.
Eastbounda
The Jets are 17-9-2 against Eastern Conference teams this season, including 11-3-0 against the Metropolitan Division...Winnipeg went 19-7-6 against the Eastern Conference last season, including a 10-3-3 record versus the Atlantic Division and 9-4-3 record against the Metropolitan Division...The Jets are 4-1-1 in their past six games against an Eastern Conference opponent...Blake Wheeler (9G, 26A) leads the Jets with 35 points in 28 games against the Eastern Conference.
Springing Ahead
March and April have historically been successful months for the Jets, as the team has gone 80-52-15 in those two months since relocation...During the past three seasons, the Jets are 30-9-2 in March and April, including a perfect 8-0-0 in April...Blake Wheeler is the franchise's leading scorer in March with 116 points (46G, 70A) in 122 games...Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 14-5-2 during his career in March with a 2.71 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
40 Ws
The Jets improved to 40-23-4 with Friday's win to become the first team in the Central Division to win 40 games this season...The 67 games it took was one more game than it took the Jets to win 40 games last season (40-17-9)...Winnipeg has won 40 games in three consecutive seasons and four of the past five seasons.
VIEW THE FULL GAMES NOTES
Offensive Explosion
Friday's game marked the third time this season the Jets scored eight or more goals in a game...Winnipeg is the only team in the NHL to score eight or more goals in three games this season...The Jets have outscored their opposition 20-11 in their past four games.
Streaky Captain
Jets captain Blake Wheeler has a goal in four consecutive games (7G) and a point in eight consecutive games (7G, 15A)...His point streak is the second longest active point streak in the NHL...Wheeler also had an 11-game point streak this season from Oct. 18-Nov. 14...He is second in the NHL with 64 assists and is ninth with 83 points.
Multi-Point Nights
Six Jets had multi-point games on Friday, led by Nikolaj Ehlers' three-point night (1G, 2A)...Andrew Copp had a pair of goals his first multi-goal game of the season...Blake Wheeler had a goal and an assist for his 21st multi-point game of the season, which is tied with Mark Scheifele for the team lead.
Hitman
Brandon Tanev had seven hits on Friday to move into a tie for third in the league with 229 hits this season...He has had seven hits in a game five times this season...Tanev has eclipsed his career high of 188 hits he had last season...He needs 28 hits to set a franchise record for most hits in a season.