GAMEDAY: Jets vs Flames

WINNIPEG -A seven-game home stand comes to an end tonight for the Winnipeg Jets, and it concludes with a match-up against a familiar foe - the Calgary Flames.
It's the fourth meeting of the season between the two clubs - and the third this week. Despite that, Mark Scheifele doesn't mind another night of going up against the line of Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and Andrew Mangiapane.
That's the line Scheifele has seen the most of at five-on-five over the past two games. He doesn't expect it to change much tonight.
"It's fun playing against that line," said Scheifele. "Sean is a great player. Johnny has been playing fantastic. It motivates me. It motivates my line mates to play against them to not only keep them off the scoresheet but try to contribute as well on the offensive side."

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said putting Andrew Copp on that line has also changed the dynamic of Scheifele's line, as well as how the match-up plays out.
"There is a certain style to the Monahan line. It would be very akin to the Scheifele line prior to Andrew going there," said Maurice. "Andrew being on there changes the dynamic. Just on face-offs alone, offensive zone face-offs on the left side, Andrew can take those face-offs and you have a little better chance of winning the draw."

Copp's fingerprints have been all over the first two games of the series, which have been split between the two squads.
His 22:37 and 23:41 of ice time on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, led all Jets forwards. In both outings, he also led all Jets skaters in penalty kill ice time.
On top of all that, he was on the ice in both six-on-five situations. On Monday, it was to try and tie the game - with his line mate Scheifele ultimately doing just that. The next night, he was on the ice to try and prevent the Flames from finding the equalizer.
"It's what I've worked for and what I want to continue to try and do," said Copp. "Whether I'm on a scoring line with Scheif or (Paul Stastny), or if I'm going against the other team's best with (Adam Lowry), just trying to do it to the best of my ability. It's a good step, but there is a long way to go before I solidify that. I just want to continue to get better."
The Jets held an optional skate this morning and will have one line-up change. Jansen Harkins is day-to-day with a lower-body injury which means David Gustafsson will slot in for the first time since Jan. 30.
Connor Hellebuyck wasn't on the ice for the morning skate, which is consistent with his routine when he's getting the start in goal.

He made 25 saves on 28 shots in Monday's meeting with the Flames, the night Scheifele tied the game with 1:50 to go in regulation.
The shootout that night didn't go the Jets way, leading to Hellebuyck breaking his stick on the crossbar.
Maurice feels as much as that shows Hellebuyck's competitiveness level, it also shows just how valuable each and every point will be in this condensed season.
He believes that holding leads will be more challenging this season. The Jets were 24-1-0 when leading after 40 minutes in 2019-20 and are off to a 2-0-1 start in that situation this season, but it hasn't been easy.
Tuesday was a great example. The 3-1 Jets lead after 40 minutes turned to 3-2 with 9:07 left in regulation, and the Flames poured on the pressure.
"There is far more of a Game 7 feel to every one of these games. You get down one, you're throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them," said Maurice. "You have D diving in, you have that 'score-at-all-costs, it doesn't matter if it ends 3-1 or 4-1.' You have to get that next goal. I think there is more of that playoff feel in the third period."

On Tuesday, Laurent Brossoit made a huge stop on Gaudreau in the final seconds to preserve the regulation victory for the Jets.
"What we saw is that it'll be one thing that it turns on. For me, it was LB's save at the end of the game. Connor has been able to do that for us (too)," said Maurice. "There is a different feel on the bench in the intensity of these games."
The result of these back-and-forth games is entertaining hockey, and that suits Scheifele just fine.
"That's just good teams playing against each other," said Scheifele. "When one team has the lead, the other is going to push. We expect that again today."
Puck drop is set for 7 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Game Notes
The Jets end a seven-game home stand on Thursday, during which they're 3-2-1.
This is the third of four consecutive games that the Jets will play the Flames. It's the only time this season the Jets will play the same opponent in four consecutive games.
Tuesday's win was Winnipeg's third this season by one goal. The Jets are 3-1-1 in one-goal games and two of the three one-goal wins have come on home ice. Last season, Winnipeg went 15-9-6 in one-goal games.
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