Game Day: Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild

Winnipeg’s slow start and shaky second period ultimately cost them against Carolina. The Jets surrendered the opening goal just 16 seconds into the match and managed just four shots on net in the middle frame, conceding two goals, including a shorthanded marker. Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and Josh Morrissey added another in the defeat, while Eric Comrie, now the temporary starter with Connor Hellebuyck sidelined, turned aside 24 shots.

The Wild, meanwhile, played excellent hockey throughout the month of November. They are 8-1-1 this month and are coming off a dominant 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, extending their points streak to seven games. Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek combined for seven points, and Filip Gustavsson posted a 19-save shutout. Much of Minnesota’s recent rise is due to the stellar play of young goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who has a 5-0-2 record with two shutouts and a .926 save percentage (SV%).

These two clubs last met in late October in St. Paul, when Kyle Connor buried the overtime winner to lift the Jets to a 4-3 victory. They will meet twice more after today: Dec. 27 in Winnipeg and Jan. 15 in St. Paul to wrap up the season series.

Projected line-up (subject to change):

Connor–Scheifele–Vilardi

Substitutes – Lowry – Perfetti

Niederreiter-Toews-Nyquist

Koepke–Barron–Iafallo

Morrissey-DeMelo

Samberg – Pionk

Stanley Miller

Comrie

Militia

Next:

Puck drop is at 3:00 PM CST on TSN3.