DAVID GUSTAFSSON DEBUT
No one is happier than the Jets 2018 second round pick ahead of the Jets and Coyotes tonight. Gustafsson will play his first NHL game 478 days after he heard his name called in Dallas. Gustafsson has a good stick and is a responsible player in his own end of the rink. He will centre a line with Gabriel Bourque and Mason Appleton. Mark Letestu is out day-to-day.
HELLEBUYCK IS ROLLING
Connor Hellebuyck has returned to the form that the Jets need in his last three starts. After giving up five in the opener in New York, Hellebuyck has allowed five goals in three games since the loss to the Rangers. His save percentage over those appearances is .953 to go along with a 1.67 goals against average. The Jets only play three games this week with no back-to-backs, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Hellebuyck in all three on home ice.
POWER PLAY STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS
Right at the start of the morning skate the Jets went to work on the power play. Although the team has goals with the man advantage in back-to-back games for the first time this season, it still needs some fine tuning. Keep in mind the team didn't get to work on it a whole lot during the pre-season and training camp because both Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine were involved in contract discussions. Winnipeg is 23rd in the National Hockey League heading into action tonight.
COYOTES WILL BE A HANDFUL
Arizona lost one of their best defencemen when Niklas Hjalmarsson went down the other night. That being said, Rick Tocchet has this team playing fast, their gaps are getting better and they have played well in losses to unbeaten Colorado and 5-1 Boston. Arizona is one of four teams without a single power play goal this season but any team that has Phil Kessel, Clayton Keller and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on its top power play unit is good for a breakout night soon.
