WPG-CGY-preview 12-10

JETS (13-14-3) at FLAMES (15-13-2)
10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, NHL.TV

Jets team scope

Goaltender Michael Hutchinson will make consecutive starts for the Winnipeg Jets for the first time since Oct. 28-30. Connor Hellebuyck had started 15 of the previous 18 games for the Winnipeg Jets before Hutchinson made 22 saves in a 2-1 loss against the New York Rangers on Thursday. "I really liked [Hutchinson's] game in St. Louis (a 3-2 overtime win last Saturday)," coach Paul Maurice said. "Big win for us. There was some pressure going into that game on the road based on our trip going in, and I thought he battled very hard against the Rangers. The two that beat him weren't on him and he fought for it. We're going to need that in tonight's game." Hutchinson is 3-5-2 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 12 games this season. "It doesn't matter who's in net for us," defenseman Jacob Trouba said. "We trust them both." The Jets start a two-day, two-game Alberta road trip at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Winnipeg concludes the set at the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Left wing Marko Dano will move to the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler to balance the forward group heading into the weekend games. "We've got a game tomorrow night and we're going to need everybody off our bench," Maurice said. "It's some balance going into the lines, making sure we can get everybody off our bench tonight." Winnipeg is 4-2-1 in its past seven games.

Flames team scope

Calgary will go for its sixth straight victory, which would be the Flames' longest streak since winning seven in a row Dec. 1-17, 2015. "I just think we're finding our game right now," forward Matt Stajan said. "Everybody's contributing. We're getting scoring from throughout. We're getting goaltending. Special teams have been good. When everything's clicking, you roll with it and try to make it happen for as long as you can." The Flames are 7-1-1 in their past nine games. "We're playing with confidence right now and we've got to keep working harder and harder because that's how you keep this going," Stajan said. Forward Johnny Gaudreau has six points (two goals, four assists) in three games since returning from a fractured finger that kept him out of the lineup for 10 games. "It's spread us out a little bit offensively, which helps, especially when the other team is trying to match up, like some teams too," coach Glen Gultuzan said. "It's helped us to have Johnny there." Goaltender Chad Johnson, who will make his sixth straight start, is 12-2-0 with a 1.57 goals-against average and .948 save percentage since Nov. 15. "There's no way around it," Stajan said. "When we were in the dumps he had a few big wins there for us, and it's kind of turned our season around for us."

Jets projected lineup

Marko Dano -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Bryan Little -- Patrik Laine
Andrew Copp -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Chris Thorburn -- Mathieu Perreault -- Drew Stafford
Josh Morrissey -- Dustin Byfuglien
Toby Enstrom -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot -- Paul Postma
Michael Hutchinson
Connor Hellebuyck
Scratched:Mark Stuart, Alexander Burmistrov
Injured:Joel Armia (lower body), Shawn Matthias (lower body), Tyler Myers (lower body), Nic Petan (lower body)

Flames projected lineup

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Status report

The Jets assigned Connor to Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Friday. … Versteeg, who will miss his second straight game, is close to returning but will not play Saturday, Gulutzan said.

Who's hot

Laine has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past six games, and his 17 goals places him third the NHL behind Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins. Laine leads rookies with 25 points. … Byfuglien has a goal and six assists in a six-game point streak. … Monahan has eight points (three goals, five assists) in a six-game point streak.