Preview: Blackhawks at Jets
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[December 14, 2017]
The Winnipeg Jets lost two of
their first three home games this season, but that early October
stumble seems like ancient history as they host the Chicago
Blackhawks on Thursday. The Jets are 10-0-1 in their past 11 home
games after Monday’s impressive 5-1 victory over Vancouver, their
seventh consecutive victory on home ice to tie a franchise record,
and it is Winnipeg’s play on home ice that has vaulted it to the
third-most points in the Western Conference entering Wednesday.
“Coming home and playing in front of this crowd every night is
pretty amazing,” Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers told reporters after
scoring one of four unanswered goals as Winnipeg improved to 11-2-1
on the season at home. “We needed the extra energy and the crowd
gave us a boost.” The Blackhawks finished a sweep of a three-game
homestand Tuesday by beating Florida 3-2 in overtime, getting the
game-tying goal from Jonathan Toews and the winner from Patrick
Kane. “It’s nice to get some confidence and score goals late in
games when we’re down a goal or two,” Toews told the media
afterward. Chicago, which started Wednesday in a three-way tie for
fourth in the Central Division, plays its next three games against
division foes.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN Chicago, TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (15-11-5): Goaltender Corey Crawford made 35
saves Tuesday and is third in the NHL in goals against average
(2.20) and save percentage (.933) entering Wednesday. Toews finished
with a goal and an assist Tuesday, and in six games this month he
has three goals and three assists. Defenseman Jan Rutta left
Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury and his status is
day-to-day.
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ABOUT THE JETS (18-8-5): Forward Mathieu Perreault finished with two
goals (including the 100th of his career) and an assist Monday,
giving him 15 points in 14 games since returning from injury. Ehlers
scored his third goal in three games to give him 14 on the season,
while Blake Wheeler is tied for the league lead in assists with 30
through Tuesday. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien missed Monday’s game
with a lower-body injury and is expected to be sidelined until after
Christmas.
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OVERTIME
1. Chicago, which is 6-6-3 on the road, plays seven of its next
eight games away from home.
2. The Jets’ seven consecutive home victories matches the mark the
franchise set in Atlanta in 2007.
3. Winnipeg beat Chicago four times in five games last season,
outscoring the Blackhawks 16-10.
PREDICTION: Jets 4, Blackhawks 2
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