Thomas' Three Storylines - WPG @ MIN

ONE MORE POINT
After the incredible start to the season, sitting second heading into the break in the Central and then a tough road schedule catching up to them in March, the Winnipeg Jets used a 4-1 homestand to get them to within one point of clinching a playoff berth. Winnipeg scored 21 times over the five games at Canada Life Centre and played one of their most complete games of the season in the 2-0 win over Nashville. The Predators beat Calgary last night eliminating the Flames and Nashville is three points back of the Jets for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference and both teams have two games remaining. A win tonight in St. Paul will put Winnipeg back into the postseason after missing the dance in 2021-22.

LOWRY LINE
The Dubois-Connor-Scheifele trio have provided offence since they were put together five games ago and have been pretty dynamic at times. But the Adam Lowry line has been huge for the Jets especially the last two games in must win situations. Lowry, Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter took over at times against Nashville and dominated the Sharks on Monday night. The Jets won't have last change at Xcel Energy Center tonight and that means the Dubois line will be facing Minnesota's top checking line and d-pairing. Lowry, Appleton and Niederreiter will need their play to carry over against one of the heavier teams in the NHL in order to help Winnipeg to get past the Wild for the first time this season.
WILD WAITING
Even though the Wild played last night in Chicago, Minnesota didn't dress Matt Dumba, Mats Zuccarello, Kirill Kaprizov, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin against the Hawks. It will be an all-hands-on deck Wild team tonight going up against the Jets. Minnesota still has a chance at home ice in the first round of the playoffs sitting two points out of first in the Central. If Winnipeg plays the way they did against the Wild when the teams met in the Manitoba capital back on March 8th, Rick Bowness likes their chances.