PHILADELPHIA - The Winnipeg Jets will try to end a short two-game road trip on a winning note tonight as they conclude the season series with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Jets (30-13-5) are coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and in their last meeting with the Flyers back at Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg was also held off the scoresheet in a 2-0 final.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia's 2-1 win in Florida over the Panthers Tuesday night snapped a five-game losing streak. That improved the Flyers record to 26-19-6 this season.
Despite the fact the Jets have lost three consecutive games in regulation (and are winless in four if the overtime loss in Toronto is included), Morgan Barron doesn’t sense any frustration in the room.
“This is a little skid and we want to get out of it,” said Barron after the optional morning skate. “Ultimately we’ve liked our game in some of the games in that four or five, so we’re still in the right mindset. It’s just a matter of time and we’ll start seeing some pucks go in the net.”
It’s just the second time this season that the Jets have lost three straight in regulation. The last time it happened, Winnipeg went 16-1-2 over the next 19 games.
Associate coach Scott Arniel felt his team generated enough against Pittsburgh and the reward for their efforts is close.
“We want to use that whole zone and bring them out away from the net. We want them to create some seams and gaps kind of like you would on the power play,” said Arniel. “The next part of that, the greasy goals that we talked bout in training camp and talked about at different parts of the year, we need to get back to getting some of those - those rebounds, deflections, those hack and whacks, the second pucks - so we can’t obviously be too far away from the net.”
Barron, who has already tied his career high for goals in a season with eight, says the Jets want to do a better job of getting bodies to the front of the net. However, it’s not as easy as just putting guys in front and screening the opposing goaltender.
“If you send two guys to the net, they’re going to have two guys boxing you out. If you send three guys to the net, they’re going to have three guys boxing you out,” said Barron. “To me, it’s about puck support and making sure you have that one guy around the net at all times. Then try to spread them out after that and try to get pucks through.”
In fact, one of Winnipeg’s best lines at five-on-five was the newly created trio of Barron, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Alex Iafallo. According to Natural Stat Trick, that line held a shot attempt percentage of 69.23 percent, and held the edge in high-danger chances 3-0.
“We were able to get some time in the o-zone, but we want to do a little more than that. We’re still feeling each other out I think and starting to get used to different tendencies,” said Barron.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to play with them.”
That line will stay in tact tonight against Philadelphia. Here is how Winnipeg’s line-up is projected to look, with Laurent Brossoit getting the start in goal:
Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Perfetti-Monahan-Ehlers
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Namestnikov-Iafallo
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Stanley-Schmidt
After Brenden Dillon was handed a three-game suspension after the loss to Pittsburgh, Logan Stanley will draw in for the first time since December 12 and play his eighth game of the season.
“He’s done a great job of staying ready,” Arniel said. “We’re right in the second half of the year - big games and big moments - and hopefully he’s ready to go. I think he is. He’s been working really hard in practice for this opportunity.”
It’s the first time the Jets have had to make an adjustment to a defensive pair in their top four to start a game since October. But Stanley has been patient and has been a good teammate while sitting out, and no she knows it’s his chance to help the Jets get back in the win column.
“It’s tough but you just try to work as hard as you can in practice, almost treat it like a game when you’re doing battle drills and things like that,” said Stanley after Wednesday’s practice. “Nothing can quite replicate it. It’s been a while, but hopefully I’m not too rusty.”
Puck drop is set for 6 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
