Game Day Preview: Oilers @ Jets

When: Monday, February 27, 2012

Time: 7:30 p.m. CST

Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Records: Winnipeg Jets (30-26-8), Edmonton Oilers (24-31-6)

Television/Radio: SNET-W,TSN-JETS/ TSN 1290 Radio

The Story: The Winnipeg Jets will look to rebound from a disappointing 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon with a win tonight against the Edmonton Oilers.

This will be the first and only meeting of the regular season between the Jets and Oilers and the first game for both teams post-NHL Trade Deadline.

The Jets are in 8th in the Eastern Conference with 68 points and trail the Florida Panthers by three points for the top spot in Southeast Division. The Jets have earned points in six consecutive games and have a record of 3-0-2 in the first five games of their current eight-game home stand.

The Jets have scored 19 goals during their last five games (3.8 goals/game) and have been getting outstanding offensive production from their top offensive players.

Blake Wheeler has been especially hot. Wheeler leads the Jets with 51 points (a career high) and has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his last six games, an incredible streak that has seen him rocket up the NHL’s individual points race (36th overall).

Heading into tonight’s game, the Jets have two others players (aside from Wheeler) who are riding six-game points streaks. Evander Kane has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last six games and Dustin Byfuglien has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in his last six games.

Ondrej Pavelec is expected to get the start in goal for the Jets tonight (52 games played, 23-20-7, 2.78 goals against average, .911 save percentage, three shutouts).

Projected Jets line combinations:

Goalie:

Ondrej Pavelec

Forwards:

1st: Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler

2nd:  Evander Kane- Alexander Burmistrov- Kyle Wellwood

3rd:  Tanner Glass- Jim Slater- Chris Thorburn

4th:  Tim Stapleton- Nikolai Antropov -Antti Miettinen

Defence:

Dustin Byfuglien- Tobias Enstrom

Ron Hainsey-Mark Stuart

Randy Jones-Mark Flood

Offensive Leaders:

Edmonton Oilers: Jordan Eberle (27 goals, 33 assists, 60 points), Taylor Hall (22 goals, 24 assists, 46 points), Sam Gagner (14 goals, 26 assists, 40 points)

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler (13 goals, 38 assists, 51 points), Evander Kane (24 goals, 17 assists, 41 points), Dustin Byfuglien (10 goals, 30 assists, 40 points)

Injury Report:

Edmonton Oilers: Theo Peckham (face), Alex Plante (concussion), Linus Omark (ankle)

Winnipeg Jets:  Zach Bogosian (game time decision)

Who’s Next: The Jets next game is on Thursday, March 1st, at home, against the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. CST).

QUICKIES…..The Jets power play is ranked 9th overall in the National Hockey League (37-for-196, 18.9%)….. The Jets penalty killing is ranked 20th overall in the NHL (80.9%)…..