GAMEDAY: Jets at Oilers

EDMONTON - Blake Wheeler thinks a day of rest will have a significant impact on tonight's North Division tilt between the Winnipeg Jets (18-10-2) and Edmonton Oilers.
Two nights ago, the Jets and Oilers (20-13-0) were both playing the second game in a back-to-back scenario. That Oilers prevailed in that one, 2-1, but it didn't seem to have the same pace as the previous four meetings between the two clubs - which had 33 goals combined.
With both groups rested, that pace is likely to return.
"You don't really know until the game starts. All we can do is worry about ourselves. We play a particular style of game that's given us success this year, so we're cognizant of some of the weapons that they have on their end of the ice," said Wheeler. "An up-and-down game plays into their hands, so there are some things that we need to do to try and keep those particular players at bay. That will feed into our game as well."

With 98 goals in 30 games this season, the Jets have the sixth most goals in the National Hockey League. Edmonton's 112 are the most, but despite the offensive firepower on both rosters, Jets head coach Paul Maurice feels his team is getting more comfortable in tight, low-scoring affairs like Thursday night.
"I think we're on the same path that, geez, probably three or four teams are in the North. Edmonton would be one, Toronto would be another one with lots of confidence in their ability to score goals, so being able to grind out those tough games," said Maurice.
"Even in a 2-1 loss, we think there are places we can generate a little bit more offence. But we're happy with our game. I think our last four games have been smart."
Winnipeg has split those last four games, which has been part of a stretch that has seen them play nine consecutive games against teams holding down a playoff spot - with seven of those games coming on the road.
"They're playoff teams but you've got Edmonton in there, you've got Toronto in there, really explosive offensive teams - I'm happy with where our game is," said Maurice.
The Jets are 8-0-1 when coming off a regulation loss this season and will go with the same line-up tonight as Thursday in an effort to improve that mark. The only difference will be in goal, where Connor Hellebuyck will get his 24th start of the season.

Here is how the Jets are expected to line up in front of him:
Stastny-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Dubois-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-DeMelo
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-Poolman
Tonight's game in Edmonton will be the 10th consecutive game that Wheeler has had Paul Stastny on his opposite wing with Mark Scheifele in the middle.
That trio has combined for eight goals and 23 points in that span.
"Having (Stastny) at left wing, he's such a steadying presence for our line," said Wheeler. "If there's a breakdown, he's such a good presence down low in the defensive zone and has such a smart hockey mind, he thinks the game the same way that Mark and I think it. We've given up on the plus/minus stat for the year, but outside of that, our line feels great about the matchup we're getting every night. The bulk of our game, we feel really good about."
The Oilers sit two points up on Winnipeg in the North Division standings, with the Jets holding three games in hand.
Connor McDavid scored both of Edmonton's goals on Thursday. Clearly the Jets would like to limit what the Oilers captain can generate, but that can't be their only concern.
"When you're playing against a guy who is on track to have 100 points in 50-some games, there are going to be some minuses that he's going to toss out to some people," said Wheeler. "But we're trying to score on our end too. If you go into a game expecting to keep a guy that has 100 points in 50-some games and say we need to keep him off the scoresheet, I don't think that's a great way to approach a game. We have to go in there and try to do something offensively out there as well."

On the defensive side, Dylan DeMelo has been paired with Josh Morrissey for the last three games. On Thursday, DeMelo spent 5:49 of his 18:21 of ice time against McDavid.
"You look at the first goal (on Thursday), he steps on the ice and five seconds later it's in our net. We've got to be aware at all times and it's got to be a five-man unit," said DeMelo. "Be extra cognizant when he's out there. Play him hard and play him smart."
Maurice believes the race in the standings doesn't allow teams to carry their losses into the next night, and believes his team's ability to avoid doing that has been central to their bounce back ability.
"Being able to be consistent, understand how you're playing, and being able to be consistent with your emotions - find that place where you can get that energy, is the key piece," said Maurice. "It's a playoff series where you really have to rely on yourselves for your own emotion, being able to control them, and be even keel is critical now."
Puck drop is set for 9 pm CT.
-- Mitchell Clinton, WinnipegJets.com
Game Notes
The Winnipeg Jets continue a seven-game road trip with their second consecutive game against the Edmonton Oilers tonight.
The Jets are 8-0-1 following a regulation loss of any kind this season.
Winnipeg is 8-5-1 on the road this season and have a point in three of their past four road games (2-1-1).
Kyle Connor has four goals combined in his past three games.
Mathieu Perreault matched his goal total from last season with his seventh goal of the season on Thursday.
Logan Stanley is second among NHL rookie defensemen with a plus-seven rating.
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