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| WINNIPEG JETS |
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14–6–1 (29points; .690%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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8:00 P.M. – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 CANADA LIFE CENTRE WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA |
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BALLY SPORTS OHIO ESPN+ (Out of Market) |
Patrik Laine is back to face his former team when the Columbus Blue Jackets travel to Winnipeg for a Friday night puck drop against the Jets.
Laine had been out since injuring his ankle against the New York Islanders in a November 12th game. The seven games missed was the entirety of the Blue Jackets three-week homestand.
It's not just Laine who's back — goaltender Elvis Merzlikins was also activated from the injured list this week and is expected to get the start in goal for Columbus when they face former Blue Jacket Pierre-Luc Dubois and the Jets.
Here's what to know as the Blue Jackets look to avoid an 0-5-0 mark on Friday night puck drops:
| CBJ | SEASON STATS | WPG |
|---|---|---|
| 2.86 | GOALS FOR | 3.24 |
| 4.10 | GOALS AGAINST | 2.52 |
| 15.4% | POWER PLAY | 20.9% |
| 79.0% | PENALTY KILL | 82.1% |
| 29.7 | SHOTS FOR | 30.3 |
| 36.2 | SHOTS AGAINST | 31.7 |
| 44.7% | CF% (EVEN) | 49.7% |
| 50.8% | FACEOFF % | 47.0% |
| PROJECTIONS | ||
| ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK | 23% | |
| ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER THE 538 | 32% | |
| CAESAR'S SPORTSBOOK BETTING | WPG -240 | |
| JETS: LAST THREE GAMES | ||
| TUE, 11/29 | vs. COLORADO | W: 5-0 |
| SUN, 11/27 | @ CHICAGO | W: 7-2 |
| FRI, 11/25 | @ DALLAS | OTW: 5-4 |
| JETS: TEAM LEADERS | ||
| GOALS | MARK SCHEIFELE | 12 |
| ASSISTS | JOSH MORRISSEY | 20 |
| POINTS | JOSH MORRISSEY | 25 |
TALKING POINTS: WPG
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The Jets offense has really taken off as of late. They've put up 17 goals in their last three games, winning all three and scoring at least five goals in each contest.
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Specifically, Blake Wheeler has been as hot as they come. After a pair of assists in the first two of those victories, the Jets top line wing picked up a hat trick and added an apple in Winnipeg's 5-0 win over the defending champion Colorado Avalanche earlier this week. Wheeler's last three games: three goals, five assists, eight points, and a plus/minus of +6. Not bad for a 36-year-old.
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Despite the streak, Wheeler doesn't let the team in any of the big three. That belongs to Mark Scheifele, who leads Winnipeg with 12 goals. Defenseman Josh Morrissey leads the team in assists (20) and points (25).
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But Dubois has been solid, too. He's the only Winnipeg skater with double digit goals (10) and assists (also 10). Friday will mark his third career game against the Blue Jackets — and his third attempt at picking up his first point against his old club.
- Connor Hellebuyck is likely to get the nod in goal, and he has been sensational. The Jets netminder is 11-5-1 in 17 starts this season, with a 2.29 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Both numbers are top five among starting goalies across the league.
CBJ STORYLINES
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3 X 4
In Monday's loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Blue Jackets gave up three goals for the fourth straight game. While not eye-popping, it's the most consistent that the Columbus defense and goaltending duo has been this season. They'll look to make it five straight against a Jets team that averages 3.24 goals per game.
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BOONE & JOHNNY
The top line duo of Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau have combined for 17 of the Blue Jackets 60 goals — over 28% of the team's offense. With Laine expected to join them on the top line, what will Columbus' two leading goal scorers be able to do?
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KEY STRETCH FOR ELVIS
Despite a postseason run for the Blue Jackets already looking next to impossible, these are important games for the team — particularly Merzlikins. In eight starts this season, he's put up last-in-the-league numbers of 4.74 (GAA) and .864 (SV%). He's in the first year of a five-year contract that pays him north of five million dollars per season and needs to prove that the investment was worth it.
PROJECTED LINES
Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change
| LW | C | RW | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Johnny Gaudreau | 38 | Boone Jenner | 29 | Patrik Laine |
| 91 | Kent Johnson | 96 | Jack Roslovic | 14 | Gus Nyquist |
| 59 | Yegor Chinakhov | 34 | Cole Sillinger | 19 | Liam Foudy |
| 50 | Eric Robinson | 7 | Sean Kuraly | 72 | Carson Meyer |
| LD | RD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Vladislav Gavrikov | 47 | Marcus Bjork |
| 23 | Jake Christiansen | 44 | Eric Gudbranson |
| 15 | Gavin Bayreuther | 2 | Andrew Peeke |
| Starting Goalie | Backup | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Joonas Korpisalo | 90 | Elvis Merzlikins |
