GAMEDAY: Jets at Blues

ST. LOUIS -With a 0.688 points percentage, the Winnipeg Jets (16-7-1) are holding down top spot in the Central Division as they begin a short two-game divisional road trip tonight in St. Louis.
It's a great spot to be at this time of year, and would be even better the later the year goes on, but Pierre-Luc Dubois knows that being in that top spot can only mean one thing.
"Now you kind of have the target on your back and you're a good challenge for a lot of teams," said Dubois, who had three assists in Winnipeg's 5-2 win over Florida on Tuesday.
"It's important for us every night to get a good start and go from there, not really give these teams hope," he said. "No matter where they are in the standings or how it's going, we need to do what we need to do."

Head coach Rick Bowness would put it a slightly different way. He wants his Jets, who have won five of their past six, to take pride in where they are.
"With that comes the responsibility of maintaining the level of play we're capable of and understanding the teams chasing us are always going to give us their A game," Bowness said after the morning skate. "There is more responsibility on us to make sure we're ready to go and play our game. But take pride in that. Take pride in the fact we're sitting there."
And the 'A game' is exactly what Bowness expects from the Blues (12-14-0) tonight.
In their last outing, the Blues snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the New York Islanders. But in the last five games, the Blues - who finished just outside the National Hockey League's top 10 for fewest goals against in 2021-22 - have allowed 26 goals.

Bowness isn't focusing on that, or the fact the Blues are 2-6-0 in their last eight. He sees them as more of the team from earlier in the season when they rattled off seven straight wins.
"They know how to win. We all go through our ups and downs through the season, that's why we play 82 games, but I have nothing but 100 percent respect for this team and this organization," said Bowness. "They're looking at us. If they want to make the playoffs, they have to close the gap on the teams ahead of them. We're one of those teams."
As far as the Jets line-up goes, Dylan DeMelo didn't take the morning skate and is listed as a game-time decision. Bowness said there are a few of those tonight, whether that be for bumps and bruises or just minor illness.
Logan Stanley, who hasn't played since the 4-0 win over St. Louis on October 24, spent the majority of the morning skate paired with Nate Schmidt. All signs point to him making his return tonight.
"It feels good and I haven't had any issues," said Stanley. "For me, it's just thinking about my game, what I need to do to play well, and how to help the team win."
Part of the towering defenceman's game is the penalty kill. The Jets PK has allowed just one goal in the last four games, killing off 11 of 12 situations in that span.

Reflecting on his time on the PK before the injury, and from what he's seen since he's been out, Stanley said there are consistent themes that make that aspect of special teams work.
"I think guys are moving, guys are in lanes, we're connected through the neutral zone, clears are good, guys are good in the face-offs, it's a lot of little things that add up to one big thing," Stanley said. "Obviously the guys have been doing a great job. Your best penalty killer has to be your goalie and they've both been great, so that always helps."
Speaking of goaltenders, it's expected that Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal for the Jets. Hellebuyck made 25 saves against the Blues earlier this season, earning him the first of his three shutouts this season so far.
Now with two valuable points on the line, Bowness wants to see his team come out with the same type of start the Jets had against Florida. The key to that, be ready from the drop of the puck - literally.
"You see that first face-off, we won it, we got it, and we got our legs going," said Bowness. "Forechecking usually gets you into the game. You get your skating going and you get more physical play, you get bumping people, that gets you into the game. You lose the first couple of face-offs the other team is doing that to you, and you really feel like you're on your heels."
Puck drop is set for 7 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Game Notes
The Jets have climbed to fifth in the NHL with a 0.688 points percentage, which also ranks first in the Central Division and second in the Western Conference.
The Jets have scored five goals or more in five of their past six games. Since Nov. 25, Winnipeg has been the NHL's highest scoring team with 28 goals in six games.
Winnipeg is atop the Central Division with 33 points. The Jets are 8-2-0 against their Central counterparts this season.
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