It has been nearly a month since the Winnipeg Jets won back-to-back games.
Considering recent history, a visit from the struggling Ottawa Senators could help them end that rut Monday night.
The Jets won nine of their first 12 games this season, but are 6-12-1 since that strong start. They went 3-8-1 without star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who returned from a knee issue to make 24 saves in Saturday’s 5-1 home victory over the Washington Capitals.
Gabriel Vilardi scored twice while Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each added two assists as Winnipeg snapped a three-game slide by winning for just the second time this month.
“That was complete throughout the lineup,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said.
“This is the very first time all year long that we have everybody back from injuries. … Hopefully this is the start of the building blocks that gets us going, moving forward, here.”
Winnipeg last posted consecutive victories on Nov. 15 and 18. Prior to Saturday’s effort paced by Hellebuyck’s performance, the Jets allowed 16 goals in the previous three contests.
The Jets won both meetings with Ottawa last season, and six of the last seven matchups. Hellebuyck has a 1.82 goals-against average and .939 save percentage while winning five of his last six starts versus Ottawa, but could earn more rest as he prepares to again see the bulk of the Jets’ goaltending workload.
Winnipeg backup Eric Comrie, meanwhile, has allowed 13 goals in losing his last three starts.
The Senators, though, have lost six of their last eight games after falling 3-2 at Minnesota on Saturday. Ottawa totaled 36 shots on goal, but only managed scores from Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens to overcome a 2-0 hole, only for the Wild to break the tie in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
“It was a really strong road game,” said Senators coach Travis Green, whose club is about to end a stretch of playing 10 in 13 away from home.
“I like our team game right now. The league’s tight right now, one little mistake here and there can cost you.”
Despite the outcome, Cozens continues to thrive with seven points in the last three contests. Stutzle, meanwhile, has recorded four of his team-leading 15 goals in the last three games.
Stutzle has posted four goals and five assists in his last eight games against the Jets.
Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark has stopped 44 of 49 shots while winning both of his December road starts. Backup Leevi Merilainen (3.32 goals-against average) made 22 saves Saturday for the Senators, but has lost his last four starts.
Knocking on the door of a fourth straight 20-goal season, Vilardi has recorded five of his 16 on the campaign in the last five games for Winnipeg. He has just two in six career games versus Ottawa.
Connor, with four goals and eight assists during an eight-game point streak, has notched 27 points in 23 all-time games against the Senators. Scheifele, who shares a team-leading 40 points with Connor, owns 37 points in 32 games versus Ottawa.
–Field Level Media
