The Winnipeg Jets visit the Minnesota Wild today in their final game of the pre-season…The Jets defeated the Wild 4-1 on Sept. 18 in the first meeting of the pre-season between the two sides…After today’s game, the Jets return to practice on Tuesday to prepare for Thursday’s season opener on the road against the New York Rangers.
Last Game
Sept. 28 vs. EDM – 5-3 L
Jets Scorers: Suess (2), Poolman (1), Bourque (2)
Oilers Scorers: Jurco (1, 2), McDavid (1), Bear (1, 2)
Jets Goaltender: Hellebuyck (21 sv, 5 ga)
Oilers Goaltender: Smith (18 sv, 3 ga)
Jets PP: 0-for-1
Jets PK: 2-for-4
Recap: The Winnipeg Jets took a 3-2 lead into the third period, but lost 5-3 to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Bell MTS Place…Defenceman Tucker Poolman paced the Jets with a goal and an assist, while Gabriel Bourque scored, was a plus-three in the game, and had a team-leading four hits…Mark Letestu led all centremen in faceoffs by winning eight-of-12 draws.
Three Stars: 1. Jurco | 2. Bear | 3. Poolman
Laine Inked
The Jets signed Patrik Laine to a two-year, $6.75 AAV contract on Friday…Laine, 21, played in his third full season with the Jets in 2018-19 and scored 30 goals for his third consecutive 30-plus goal campaign…The Tampere, Finland native added 20 assists for 50 points before recording four points (3G, 1A) in six games in the playoffs…Laine had the best month of his young NHL career in November 2018 when he scored 18 goals in just 12 games…Laine made his Jets debut in 2016-17 when he tallied 36 goals and added 28 assists in just 73 games, as he finished as the runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year…In his sophomore season, Laine scored 44 goals, which was second in the NHL. His 110 goals in the past three seasons is sixth in the NHL.
Pre-Season Best
Captain Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in scoring in the pre-season with four points (2G, 2A) in two games…He’s also a team-best plus-four…Nikolaj Ehlers (2G, 1A), Tucker Poolman (1G, 2A), Andrew Copp (1G, 2A) and Mark Scheifele are just behind Wheeler with three points…Goaltender Laurent Brossoit has won both of his starts and posted a 1.00 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in 120 minutes of work.
Against the Wild
The Jets went 0-5-0 against the Wild last season…One side has won at least four games against the other in three of the last four seasons…Despite going 0-4 against the Wild last season, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck had a 2.80 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in the four contests against Minnesota.
Road Start
The Jets begin the 2019-20 regular season on Thursday against the New York Rangers…Winnipeg plays five of their first six games on the road to begin the regular season, including a four-game road trip to start the season…Winnipeg visits the Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, and Pittsburgh Penguins to kick off the 2019-20 campaign…The Jets were 22-18-1 on the road last season, which was 13th in the NHL.
Back Outside
The Jets are scheduled to face the Calgary Flames at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Oct. 26 for the 2019 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic…This is Winnipeg’s second outdoor game, as the Jets hosted the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at IG Field.