GAME DAY: McDavid, Oilers visit Jets

Those line match ups will be key tonight as the Jets try to slow down the NHL's leading scorer in Connor McDavid. The 19-year-old has 11 goals and 31 points this season, and was named the league's third star of the week just prior to Edmonton's morning skate.
"Matching (his) speed is almost impossible. It's completely impossible to do from behind. You've got no chance if you're beside him. But if your timing is right and you can take away the clean options to him, you've got an outside chance," Paul Maurice said of McDavid. "Maybe there's somebody faster, I can't remember. Maybe there's somebody just as fast. But I don't think there's ever been a set of hands that went with that speed. That's a different animal."

Just behind McDavid in the league scoring race is Mark Scheifele with 26 points. The two players have a relationship that goes back to their time with Hockey Canada, and that bond continued to develop at the World Cup of Hockey. Both players suited up for Team North America, and played on the same line together.
"I'm sure there will be a few cross checks out there," Scheifele said. "He's a guy that you like to challenge yourself against because he is so good. Tonight is a tough challenge for our whole team, not just me.
"We have to focus on sticking to our game plan, sticking to our structure, and if we do that, we'll be able to limit him."

Should the line match ups allow for it, the two players could find themselves in the face off dot together, a spot McDavid says is the source for the most chirping between the two.
"We always joke about face offs. It's an area I struggle with, and he's always trying to get better in," said McDavid, who has won 42.9 percent of his face offs this season compared to Scheifele's 44.3. "We'll try and have a bit of fun with our face offs and stuff like that when we go."
Despite McDavid's play, the Oilers are winless in their last three games, including a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

Overall, Edmonton is 5-1-0 against the Central Division, while the Jets are 2-1-0 against the Pacific. Winnipeg has lost 113 man games to injury this season, but after getting 29-year-old Bryan Little back from injured reserve in Tuesday's win over Nashville, Mathieu Perreault (upper body) and Toby Enstrom (personal) will return to the line-up tonight.
Maurice says Perreault gives him flexibility on the bench in terms of line combinations, and the power play. But most of all, Perreault brings energy.
"We've all seen the Perreault forecheck, it's hard and fast, and he comes back to the bench with half of his equipment," Maurice said. "That's his personality, it's in the room, that's an important piece."

Perreault had three points in eleven games prior to his injury. His focus tonight is keeping things simple.
"It almost feels like the first game of the season for me," said Perreault. "It's been a while since I've played, so I'm very excited to get back on the ice."
Puck drop is 7 pm CT.
- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
JETS GAME NOTES
Tonight's Game
The Winnipeg Jets close out a three-game homestand tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, who make their second and final trip to Winnipeg this season…The Jets have won both games of this homestand so far - 3-0 over the Nashville Predators on Sunday and 3-2 over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday…Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine scored on Tuesday for the Jets…The Oilers enter tonight's game after a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at home on Tuesday, which was their third consecutive loss to close out November…Edmonton beat Winnipeg 3-0 in the 2016 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at Investors Group Field in the first game between these two teams this season…After tonight's game, the Jets play a pair of road games on Saturday and Sunday against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively.
Home is Where the Wins Are
With Tuesday's win, the Jets have won five in a row at MTS Centre, outscoring their opponents 21-6 in the handful of games…The Jets are 8-4-0 at home this season and have outscored their opponents 38-28 on home ice…The Jets are in a stretch of five of seven games at home.
Canadian Pacific
The Jets are 2-1-0 against Pacific Division this season…Their only loss is against the Oilers, while the Jets have picked up wins against the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings…Winnipeg plays five games against Pacific Division teams in December and all are against the three Canadian teams in the division (Edmonton - 2, Vancouver - 2, Calgary - 1)…Last season, the Jets went 12-8-1 against Pacific Division teams.
Workin' Overtime
Four of the last eight games between the Jets and Oilers have gone to overtime, all of which have been won by the Jets - two in overtime and two in a shootout.
Helle Heats Up
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has started the last five games for the Jets, during which he has stopped 150 of 162 shots for a .926 save percentage…He's increased his season save percentage to .915, which is nearly back to his career mark of .917…After two shutouts at home, Hellebuyck's shutout streak ended at 174:54 on Tuesday, which is a franchise record for most consecutive minutes at home without allowing a goal…He made 89 saves during the streak…He's 5-0 in his last five home starts with a 1.18 goals-against average and .961 save percentage.
Sharp Shooters
Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine scored on Tuesday to move into a three-way tie with Boston's David Pastrnak for second in NHL goal scoring with 13 goals…It marked the seventh time this season Scheifele and Laine scored in the same game…The Jets are the only team in the NHL to have two players in the top 10 in NHL goal scoring…Laine's goal was also his team-leading third game-winning goal this season...He's the only member of the Jets to have more than one game-winning goal this season.
Quick Hits
- On Tuesday, the Jets became the first team in the NHL this season to register 150 power play shots.
- Winnipeg is a perfect 8-0 when leading after the second period, which they have done in back-to-back games.
- The Jets are 1-for-21 (4.8%) on the power play in their last seven games and have been held without a power play goal in three consecutive games.
- The Jets have outscored their opposition 33-23 in the third period and overtime…The 33 goals for leads the NHL this season.
- The Jets have been outscored 32-17 in second periods this season.