The Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars will square off on Friday night at Canada Life Centre in what should be a highly-entertaining divisional matchup.
Not only is the game between the two top clubs in the Central, but it is the first of two remaining affairs between two of the three teams expected to go the furthest in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring.
“I think we are excited about it, for sure," Jets' assistant coach Marty Johnston said on Wednesday. "We understand that it’s a divisional game, those are important. But at this point, we just have to make sure that we’re prepared and ready for puck drop.”
With Dallas and Colorado heavily retooling their respective rosters in advance of the NHL's trade deadline, all eyes will be on Winnipeg and its minor additions to see if the No. 1 Jets can keep up with the reinforced Stars and Avalanche.
Do the coaches and players keep tabs on the changing landscapes around them? Sure, but not with heavy scrutiny, according to Johnston.
“We have never really talked about that as a group. I think tomorrow and Friday will be about maybe some of the new looks that (the Stars) have, based on the fact that it was maybe Game 25 that we played them in the regular season. So there will be some different players in the lineup. But our structure and how we play is going to provide us the ability and success."
Star winger Kyle Connor knows the Friday night showdown will be entertaining, but isn't quite ready to call it a measuring stick game.
"Exciting times," he chuckled. "That's one of the teams that's been there every single year. You've got to go through them, it seems like. Them, Colorado, especially in the Central. They've been at the top of the league for a long time. And we're familiar with them. We know them obviously. Getting a chance to kind of set that tone, any chance you can in the regular season. These games are only going to get more intense and obviously a big division matchup. When the time comes it'll ramp up and you'll feel the energy. There's no doubt that this team's going to get up for that one."
With GM Kevin Cheveldayoff bringing in veteran defenceman Luke Schenn and former Jets winger Brandon Tanev, the mentality from the front office is that of slight additions rather than a major overhaul on a roster that has been the wire-to-wire leader across the board.
"You want to be aware of what the other teams are doing," Connor added. "But you just look at our team and what we've been doing, we've been at the top of the league throughout the whole year, so I don't know if you want to mess too much with that chemistry. We brought in two great pieces to compliment that. I like our team. I'm confident in this group. Guys are proven throughout the year it's been able to get it done. So to be able to get that chance in the playoffs, prove that we can take that next step as a group is huge."
Having fallen short of the prize all too often, a strong postseason showing is the hope for Winnipeg this spring. With a 45-17-4 record, the Jets are currently tied with Washington for the top spot league-wide, but Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals have one game in hand (but two fewer wins) on the year.
With eight points separating the Jets and Stars, Friday's four-point challenge with Dallas should bring about a playoff atmosphere at Canada Life Centre. Connor and his mates are ready for the challenge.
"There's still a lot of games left, and we're not resting, saying the job's done," he said. "We want to get that first seed. Just from a home-ice standpoint it's huge. We love playing in front of this crowd. The way it's shaping up it seems like that matchup between the two-three, it's going to be a really good team getting bumped in the first round. We're focused here to play the best hockey we can and we'll let the result take care of itself."
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM central time, while the game can be viewed live on TSN.