The Winnipeg Jets will be taking on the Carolina Hurricanes after tallying 14 goals over their past two games. With Carolina having a top-end goaltending tandem, the Jets will be tested yet again on their offensive capabilities.

After a very eventful game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, seeing 3 hearing from the DoPS, the Jets' are red-hot but will be missing a key piece in Neal Pionk who has suffered a concussion after a knee to the head from Jason Spezza. Pionk was all over Twitter and the news after this game, registering 2 assists, receiving a 2 game suspension for kneeing Maple Leafs Defenseman Rasmus Sandin, and receiving the knee to the head from Spezza, who is still awaiting a verdict from an in-person hearing.

Over the past two games, the top-end talents have been producing very well. Scheifele with 4G-2A-6P, Dubois with 1G-3A-4P, Ehlers with 3G-1A-4P, and Wheeler had himself 5 assists. If the Jets can keep this up to any extent, they will be able to keep these wins up. The Hurricanes have a pretty solid defensive group, even missing Tony DeAngelo, this will be a tougher game to score 6+ goals.

The Jets have been playing great, even beyond the fantastic offensive production. The defending has been a lot tighter over the past few games, allowing only 10 goals in their past 4 games since ending their 5-game losing streak. Goaltending hasn't been a problem for this team, even during that losing skid.

I would expect the Jets to continue their dominance, as they have looked like a completely different team during this streak. As mentioned above, the missing piece here is Pionk, who has been fantastic. Nathan Beaulieu will be taking a spot in the lineup.

The Jets last game saw some very good powerplay chances, and 3 PPG, but overall they are still struggling lots. If last game was an indicator that the powerplay is taking a step up, this team is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Todays lines will look like:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Copp-Dubois-Ehlers
Stastny-Lowry-Vesalainen
Harkins-Toninato-Svechnikov

Morrissey-Schmidt
Dillon-Stanley
Beaulieu-DeMelo

It is hard to say that Wheeler shouldn't be on the top line after 5 assists in his past two games there, and I would have to say that he does belong there. For now, at least. After waiving Riley Nash, who was claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Jets will be using these players for the forseeable future.

Thanks for reading, there will be a post-game review up tomorrow. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Jacob Billington

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