Preview: Winnipeg Jets @ NY Islanders
The Winnipeg Jets have yet to find their “A” game since the 4 Nations break and that has resulted in our squad being on a rare losing streak. It is pretty amazing when you consider this year’s version of the Jets has only had FIVE losing streaks longer than 1 game in 2024-25. During the Dylan Samberg injury period, Winnipeg lost a season-high 4 games in a row, as well as suffering through a 3 game skid just prior to the defenseman’s return to the lineup. With Samberg on the ice, the Jets have only had to deal with three 2 game losing streaks this season, once again showing just how important the big American is to the team defense.
The current skid by the True Northers is a bit concerning, since the losses came to franchises in the bottom half of the National Hockey League and even more worrying is the lack of offense from the Jets as the dropped back-to-back 2-1 contests. While part of that is due to Winnipeg running up against strong goaltending performances by Nashville & Philadelphia, but the lack of secondary scoring opportunities at even strength and dismal performances by the powerplay units have played a large role.
Despite all that, the Winnipeg Jets (42-15-4) continue to hold onto the top spot in the NHL with 88 points. With 21 games remaining in the regular season, the Jets will be looking to lock up the top spots in the Central Division & Western Conference so it is important that the team does well on the upcoming 4 game road trip. Head coach Scott Arniel has his entire roster healthy at this point and will therefore have the full gamut of players to choose from tonight.
The New York Islanders (27-26-7) are sitting in the NHL’s 25th spot coming into tonight’s game at the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. Yet they remain just 5 points back of the Eastern Conference’s final wildcard spot…one of many teams straddling the buyer-seller line as the March 7th trade deadline approaches. Winnipeg may be healthy, but the Isles certainly can’t make that claim with numerous players on the sidelines: Mathew Barzal, Mike Reilly, Semyon Varlamov, & Matt Martin.
With the pre-game skates hours away, we will have to rely on PuckPedia’s predictions for the starting lineups at this point:
Offensively, things have gone well for the Winnipeg Jets this season, as they have two players in the top 20 in scoring with Kyle Connor (7th w/ 74 pts) & Mark Scheifele (15th w/ 67 pts) and another two in the top 50 point getters with Gabriel Vilardi (36th w/ 55 pts) & Nikolaj Ehlers (50th w/ 51 pts).
Comparatively, the New York Islanders top scorers are in the 40 to 42 point range: Anders Lee, Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson, & Kyle Palmieri.
Below are a couple graphics showing how the two franchises compare based on this season’s stats, as well as ESPN’s look at the goaltending options:
The Islanders are coming off a 4-0 loss to the NY Rangers last night at Madison Square with Ilya Sorokin between the pipes…so that might mean the Jets could be facing 25 yr old Jakub Skarek in what would be his 3rd ever NHL start. No news on Winnipeg’s starter as of yet, but I am expecting Connor Hellebuyck to be in net when the puck drops at 6:30 pm Central.
Well, that is all the time I have this morning, hopefully there is enough information there for some Arctic Ice Hockey members to take a shot at projecting the final outcome in the Comment section. It seems that it was not only the Jets’ players who lost their momentum since the break, as the BOJA Boost hasn’t been as effective in recent matches. Here is hoping that I can get back on track tonight.
Go Winnipeg!!!...
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