LINE TINKERING
Paul Maurice moved around his forward groups on the top three lines in the third period during Saturday's 3-2 win over Los Angeles. The Jets coach moved Blake Wheeler up with Dubois and Connor, Andrew Copp joined Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers and finally Evengeny Svechnikov is now with Adam Lowry and Jansen Harkins. All three will combine to run up against the Oilers top two lines tonight. By the way, Paul Stastny is getting better but it's unknown at this point if he will join the team on their trip out west tomorrow.
O FROM THE D
A massive change from the last two seasons for the Jets is they are producing offence from their defence this season. The Jets blueliners currently sit seventh in total points in the NHL with 35. They trail Anaheim, Minnesota, Florida, Vegas, Colorado and Edmonton. Last season, the Jets got 17% of their offence from their defence and that has jumped to 28% in 2021-22.
JETS CAN DEFEND TOO
It's great that the Jets are getting production offensively right now, but it is imperative that they continue to defend well. Winnipeg has held their opponents to three goals or less in nine consecutive games and that has worked well with their ability to score. The Oilers are the number one team when it comes to scoring goals and possession time in the offensive zone. Everyone will be put to the test to shut down the best team in the Western Conference.
BLUEPRINT FOR OILERS
It was awhile ago now but it is hard to put away what happened in the first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers in the spring of 2021. The Jets won the series in four straight but there were three overtime contests, and it could have gone either way. Winnipeg held the dynamic duo of McDavid and Draisaitl without a point in the first two games and to just two points in the deciding game 4. That being said, the Oilers have added some grit up front in Warren Foegele and Zach Hyman and some veteran defencemen in Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci.
"Different teams, we have some different players now," said Dave Tippett.
"We have some more depth up front and some people who can play a grinding game."
