Preview: Jets at Blackhawks

JETS (22-25-4) AT BLACKHAWKS (30-15-5)
8:30 p.m. ET; CSN-CH, TSN3, NHL.TV

Jets team scope

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck will start for the Winnipeg Jets, his first appearance since he was pulled from a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Jan. 13 after allowing three goals on six shots. Hellebuyck has allowed at least three goals in five of his past seven starts. "Just [looking for] some confidence in the net," coach Paul Maurice said. "He's going to go through a little stretch. It's been a little while. Hopefully we can let him see some easy pucks first and let him get into a good rhythm." Hellebuyck is 3-1-0 with a 1.01 goals-against average, .966 save percentage and one shutout in four starts against the Chicago Blackhawks. "It's not a concrete reason for a player to play, but he's played well and has a good feeling against this team," Maurice said. "[It's] as good as you could have going into a game against Chicago, but confidence is a big part of what these guys do." Defenseman Toby Enstrom didn't participate in the morning skate but will play.

Blackhawks team scope

Center Marcus Kruger will play after missing 11 games because of a hand injury. Kruger will center the third line between rookie left wing Nick Schmaltz and veteran right wing Marian Hossa. "It's a lot more fun being out there with the guys and preparing for a game than not," Kruger said. "Even though I've been missing games, I've been trying to work as hard as I can off the ice. But there's nothing like games, so we'll see how it is when I play." The Blackhawks are seeking their first win against the Jets this season after losing three games by a combined 9-2. "They definitely show up for these games," captain Jonathan Toews said. "It's something we can't really say we have [done], and at the end of the day, give them credit. It's not that we take anyone for granted, but we have to have that respect level to get to the next level against these guys and know they're going to come in here and [want to] keep that streak going, so we have to rectify that." Goalie Scott Darling will start over Corey Crawford, which coach Joel Quenneville said Wednesday was largely based on the recent play of each. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson will play his 600th NHL game.

Jets projected lineup

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

Blackhawks projected lineup

Ryan Hartman -- Jonathan Toews -- Richard Panik
Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Patrick Kane
Nick Schmaltz -- Marcus Kruger -- Marian Hossa
Andrew Desjardins -- Tanner Kero -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Duncan Keith -- Niklas Hjalmarsson
Michal Kempny -- Brent Seabrook
Brian Campbell -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Scott Darling
Corey Crawford
Scratched: None
Injured:Dennis Rasmussen (illness), Michal Rozsival (undisclosed)

Status report

Trouba and Wheeler didn't participate in the Jets' morning skate but will play. … Rasmussen skated but is out while recovering from an illness. … Rozsival, who was hit with a shot in practice Wednesday, didn't skate and will not play.

Who's hot

Little has five goals and two assists in a four-game point streak. … Schiefele has two goals and five assists in his past six games. … Ehlers has three goals and an assist in his past four games. … Toews has two goals and four assists in his past two games. … Hossa has two goals and five points in his past four games.