The Penguins continue their road trip with a trip to Winnipeg against the Jets.
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their most recent road trip with trip to Winnipeg. Fresh off of a win in Minnesota, the Penguins (7-7-3) are trying to build momentum again after losing three straight games prior to their win against the Wild.
The Jets currently sit in second place in the Central Division. With a 10-4-1 record, they are just one point out of first place in their division. The Penguins are up against stiff competition facing Winnipeg, and here's three things to watch for in their matchup.
1. Penguins Own the Jets
Since the Jets returned to the National Hockey League in 2011, the Penguins have had their number. Pittsburgh holds an 8-4 record in Winnipeg since 2011, and are 7-2 in their last nine visits.
The two headed monster of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin also play some of their best hockey against the Jets. The pair boast a point per game average of 1.43 and 1.44 points against Winnipeg, respectively. In order to extend their run of dominance over the Jets, the Penguins will rely heavily on their two best players.
2. Get to Connor Hellebuyck
The Jets are backstopped by one of the premier goaltenders on the planet. American goalie Connor Hellebuyck, has cemented himself amongst the elite at his position. He's won 209 games in just 393 starts, and has a career save percentage of .916.
This season is off to another Vezina-caliber start. Hellebuyck is currently 8-3-1, with a goals against average (GAA) or 2.07 and a save percentage of .935.
The Jets rely solely on Hellebuyck. He is the heart and soul of the Jets' franchise. The Penguins will need to find a way to get to Hellebuyck early and often if they want to win this game.
3. Penguins Power Play
The special teams of the Penguins have been one of their biggest issues this season. Most recently, the power play had looked stagnant and failed to produce.
The tides seemed to change with their most recent win in Minnesota. The power play netted two goals with the man advantage, including their first 5 on 3 power play goal of the season.
A great way to get to Hellebuyck would be to convert on their power play chances. Hopefully the top unit can keep the momentum they gained in Minnesota going against Winnipeg.
The Penguins meet the Jets for a 7:00PM faceoff at Canada Life Centre.
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