Canucks at Jets preview

CANUCKS (25-17-4) at JETS (24-18-4)
8 p.m. ET; TSN3, SNP, NHL.TV

Though the Jets are 2-3-1 in their past six games overall and 3-5-2 in their past 10, they can defeat the Canucks for the 10th consecutive time. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is expected to start for Winnipeg; he's 2-1-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in his past four starts, when the Jets scored a total of eight goals.
The Canucks eye their third straight victory and 10th in 12 games (9-2-0). Goalie Jacob Markstrom is expected to start; he's 8-1-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .915 save percentage in his past nine starts.

Players to watch

Canucks forward J.T. Miller has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his past 11 games, including four points (one goal, three assists) in his past two.
Jets center Mark Scheifele has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past seven games and 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 17 games against Vancouver.

They said it

"We're getting into that part of the year where games are getting a little heavier. The temperature is rising. I expect it to be that kind of game tonight." -- Canucks coach Travis Green
"They've got depth and they're getting contributions all throughout their lineup. They have a pretty mobile back end that likes to jump up in the rush and they have different ways they can hurt you, so it's going to be important that we get off to a good start and try to play with the lead." -- Jets center Adam Lowry

Canucks projected lineup

J.T. Miller -- Elias Pettersson -- Jake Virtanen
Tanner Pearson -- Bo Horvat -- Loui Eriksson
Antoine Roussel -- Adam Gaudette -- Brock Boeser
Tyler Motte -- Jay Beagle -- Tim Schaller
Quinn Hughes -- Chris Tanev
Alexander Edler -- Tyler Myers
Jordie Benn -- Troy Stecher
Jacob Markstrom
Thatcher Demko
Scratched: Oscar Fantenberg
Injured: Josh Leivo (kneecap), Brandon Sutter (upper body), Micheal Ferland (upper body), Tyler Graovac (lower body)

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Patrik Laine
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Blake Wheeler -- Andrew Copp
Jack Roslovic -- Adam Lowry -- Mathieu Perreault
Jansen Harkins -- Nicholas Shore -- Mason Appleton
Josh Morrissey -- Neal Pionk
Dmitry Kulikov -- Luca Sbisa
Anthony Bitetto -- Sami Niku
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched: Carl Dahlstrom, Gabriel Bourque
Injured: Mark Letestu (heart virus), Bryan Little (head), Nathan Beaulieu (lower body), Tucker Poolman (lower body)
Suspended: Dustin Byfuglien

Status report

Harkins enters the lineup in place of Bourque. … Poolman, a defenseman, will miss the remainder of Winnipeg's three-game homestand, coach Paul Maurice said. … Little, a center, skated Monday but is not expected to play. … Sutter, a center, skated Tuesday but also is not expected to play.

Stat pack

Horvat has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his past seven games. … Connor (five goals, four assists) and Wheeler (three goals, six assists) each has nine points in his past seven games.