After opening up their trip with a loss at Calgary, the Panthers won back-to-back games over the Oilers and Canucks before losing to the Kraken on Sunday. After falling behind 3-1 in Seattle, they made it a 3-3 game before surrendering a pair of goals during the third period to lose 5-3.
With a chance to end their road trip with a winning record, the Panthers, who occupy first place in the Atlantic Division at 28-9-5, are now gearing up to empty their tanks before heading home.
"These are the hardest games of road trips, finding that energy," Brunette said when asked about tonight's tilt. "I'm hoping that after our Sunday performance that we'll be ready to go. We have to create our own fun and energy tonight. … We need to end this road trip right here."
An all-star this season, Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Panthers and is tied for first in the NHL in scoring with 58 points, including dishing out a league-high 42 assists. Fortifying his numbers, he's earned points in 11 of his last 12 games while posting six goals and 19 assists in that span.
Manning the crease, Sergei Bobrovsky will look to improve on his stellar 20-4-3 record. Over his last 10 games, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has gone 8-1-1 with a .931 save percentage.
"He's been a horse for us," Brunette said of Bobrosky.
When asked about any lineup changes against the Jets, Brunette said that Maxim Mamin, who last played at Vancouver on Jan. 21, will be slotting in for Frank Vatrano, while Chase Priskie, who was called up from the AHL on Jan. 21, will take over for Matt Kiersted on the blue line.
Patric Hornqvist (inj.), Olli Juolevi (inj.) and Gustav Forsling (COVID protocols) remain out.
"[Our road record] hasn't been on par with what we believe it should be," Brunette said, citing the team's 7-6-5 mark outside of Sunrise. "Our focus is to get the win, get us in that direction and hopefully sustain a little momentum on the road and bring it into next week's two games."
Playing at home for the first time since Dec. 19 due to postponements related to COVID-19, the Jets have lost each of their last four games. Outscored 15-9 during that slump, they ended their eight-game trip by watching their late lead turn into a 3-2 shootout loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Up 2-0 after 40 minutes on goals from Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor, Kasperi Kapanen and Jeff Carter scored for the Penguins within a span of nine seconds in the third period to tie the game and eventually get it to a shootout where Sidney Crosby buried the winner for Pittsburgh.
"I like the resiliency that our group showed," Jets interim head coach Dave Lowry said.
Heading to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game, Connor leads Winnipeg in goals (22), assists (19) and points (41). Throwing everything but the kitchen sink on net in recent weeks, he's registered six points (three goals, three assists) over his last five contests while unleashing 70 shots on goal.
Expected to make his 12th straight start, Connor Hellebuyck, who's gone 4-1-0 in his career against the Panthers, has posted a 14-12-6 record with a .913 save percentage this season.
"This is a big game for us," Panthers forward Mason Marchment said. "We've been on and off throughout this road trip -- a couple good periods, a couple bad periods. This is one we definitely want to come out on top in."
