Thomas' Five Storylines - WPG @ VGK
Five of Winnipeg's seven wins have been by one goal this season
by Jamie Thomas @JamieThomasTV / Winnipeg Jets
SURVIVING THE OTHER TEAM'S BEST
Paul Maurice said before the Jets took on the Sharks on Friday night that he expected San Jose's best effort and that's exactly what Winnipeg faced, being outshot 52-19 at SAP Center. The Jets took the Sharks best punch time and time again and thanks to a heroic effort from Connor Hellebuyck, walked out with a 3-2 victory to push their record back to .500. Tonight, in the second game of a back-to-back Winnipeg will get Vegas. The Golden Knights have not played since Thursday when they blew a 4-2 third period lead on route to losing 5-4 in OT to Montreal - expect them to be just as 'snarly' as San Jose.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
Despite an ever-changing lineup, Winnipeg is 5-1 in one goal games thanks to another one goal victory on Friday night. They are 2-6 when it's a two or more goal contest.
THE POWER PLAY
Winnipeg has two power play goals on the road so far in 2019-20 on 17 opportunities and went 0-2 last night while generating four shots. The Sharks have the best penalty kill in the National Hockey League and tonight in Vegas, the Jets will go up against the second best PK unit in the league. The Golden Knights have surrendered just five power play goals all season and have added a league leading four short-handed markers.
BROSSOIT IS UP
While Hellebuyck is looking like he is on track to another solid season between the pipes for the Jets as the team's number one netminder, Laurent Brossoit is still fighting to find his form of last season. Brossoit gets his first start since October 13th when he gave up a career high seven goals on 28 shots in a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bell MTS Place. Brossoit was 3-0 at this point last year and had only allowed five goals and carried a save percentage of .957.
FLYING EHLERS
The Danish forward is off to the best start of his NHL career through 14 games with 14 points (7G, 7 A) and his shooting percentage is a career best 15.6%. Ehlers, Bryan Little and Jack Roslovic really have found some nice chemistry together and were the architects of the game winning goal on Friday night in San Jose with 1:24 remaining in the contest. You could argue that the 23-year-old has been the team's most consistent forward so far this season.