The Winnipeg Jets will host the Vancouver Canucks as the two Canadian teams meet for the first of three games this season.
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Vancouver Canucks as the two Canadian teams meet for the first of three games this season.
The Jets and Canucks enter tonight's game after winning their previous games 3-0 against two of the NHL's best teams. The Canucks shut out Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs, limiting them to just 20 shots on goal. Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood scored the Canucks' three goals. Although he didn't score, Elias Pettersson was the best player against the Maple Leafs, putting together a performance that many of his teammates called "Selke-worthy."
The Jets beat Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche, limiting them to just 22 shots on goals. Nikolaj Ehlers stood out in multiple facets of the game. He scored twice while playing on a shutdown line next to the Jets' captain Adam Lowry.
"I think there's two things, for me. One, he's on the ice a little bit more in key situations," said HC Scott Arniel on playing Ehlers in a defensive role. "D-zone draws where maybe I would throw Low's line out there or it might be a situation where he's starting in our end of the rink, but not a lot of time he's doing that. The other side is the responsibility. He knew he was going against the MacKinnon line and he took a lot of pride in that, in making sure he did his part to keep those guys off the scoresheet. It's intriguing now. It's got me thinking. I liked a lot of what I saw."
The two goaltenders who recorded the shutouts on Saturday will be back in between the pipes for their respective teams. Connor Hellebuyck was recently named the NHL's first star of the week and will battle with Kevin Lankinen who has been vital to the Canucks' season as they've spent most of it without Thatcher Demko.
It's an important game for both teams. The Jets need the two points to enhance their Central Division lead and the Canucks are trying to separate themselves from the pack in the wild card race.
Puck drop is at 7:00 P.M. CST at the Canadian Life Centre.
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