Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild: Hockey Fights Cancer Game
On Sunday afternoon, the Winnipeg Jets are set to face the Minnesota Wild in a key matchup dubbed their Hockey Fights Cancer game, aiming to attract fans from the football community. This game promises an exciting encounter between two divisional rivals, both aiming to continue their recent successes.
Current Form and Goaltending Situation
The Minnesota Wild comes into this contest riding a hot streak, having won four consecutive games and boasting an impressive record of 8-1-1 for November. The Jets will be looking to enhance their standing as well, having achieved three victories in their last five outings. However, they recently faced challenges, including a loss when star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was unavailable, necessitating a performance from Eric Comrie on short notice. The Jets may get a boost from a rookie goaltender in this game.
There’s speculation that Sunday could mark a pivotal moment for the Jets as they have called up Thomas Milic from the AHL to serve as a backup to Hellebuyck, who is recuperating from a minor knee procedure. While Comrie has taken the starting role for the last two games and was seen leading the practice line rushes on Saturday, the likelihood of him securing a third consecutive start remains uncertain. Should Milic make his NHL debut, it would follow an impressive stretch with the Manitoba Moose, where he recorded a 5-2-2 record and a .921 save percentage over nine games, including a current four-game winning streak and a respectable 2.14 goals-against average. His past performance in the AHL positions him as one of the league’s most promising goaltenders.
Lineup Changes and Player Performances
In terms of lineup changes, the Jets are expected to mix things up a bit. Captain Adam Lowry is likely to move up to the second line, leading to a shift away from his usual partner Nino Niederreiter. Meanwhile, Jonathan Toews is anticipated to drop down to the third line, but wingers on both lines are expected to remain unchanged. Cole Perfetti joining Lowry is an unconventional pairing, while Toews will reunite with Gustav Nyquist, who has struggled to find the net this season. After a lengthy stretch without scoring, Tanner Pearson might be out of the lineup, and Nyquist’s assist against Columbus last Tuesday has not alleviated his ongoing scoring drought. To complete the adjustments, depth forward Alex Iafallo will take Nyquist’s place on the fourth line and the final defense pairing remains undetermined between Luke Schenn and Colin Miller.
Wild’s Offensive Threat
As for the Wild, they are also riding high, led by the offensive prowess of Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov. Despite not playing together on the top line, they continue to make an impact on the power play, contributing to a combined four goals in the last ten games. During this stretch, the pair has also netted eight goals at even strength, adding further pressure on Winnipeg’s defense to respond effectively.
Goaltending Matchup
In the crease, both goaltenders bring mixed results. Eric Comrie holds a season record of 4-2-0 with a 2.84 GAA and .899 SV%, but against the Wild, he struggled with a 4.95 GAA in two previous meetings. On the other hand, Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt possesses a record of 5-0-2, with a 2.20 GAA and .926 SV%. Yet, against the Jets in one start, his GAA was significantly higher at 5.02.
Conclusion
As the Jets prepare for what promises to be a thrilling contest, fans will be watching closely for potential standout performances and notable debut appearances in this afternoon match against a formidable opponent.
