The Winnipeg Jets’ potent offense continues to pace their strong start.
That might not bode well for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have had their defensive issues on the road.
Amid the best start in franchise history, the Jets aim for a third consecutive victory when they host the Lightning on Sunday afternoon.
A winner in 10 of its first 11 and owner of a league-best 20 points, Winnipeg entered play Saturday with an NHL-leading 52 goals. The Jets have scored at least six goals five times, including each of the last two contests — matching 6-2 wins at Detroit and Columbus — following a 6-4 home defeat to Toronto from Monday.
In addition, Winnipeg has converted 14 of 31 power-play opportunities (45.2 percent).
“We’re trying to keep people out of our end of the rink, so that means you are playing, probably, down in the other end,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said.
“You try, when you get teams caught on the ropes there a little, and getting tired, and start zone-timing them, that’s when we try to keep our foot on the gas and keep the pressure on them.”
On Friday at Columbus, Nikolaj Ehlers recorded a hat trick and Josh Morrissey added a goal and an assist.
Meanwhile, teammate Kyle Connor has recorded at least a point in each of the 11 games and leads the team with 18. He’s recorded five points in five career home games versus Tampa Bay, and six goals and four assists in 11 total games.
The Jets have scored at least three goals in each of a four-game winning streak against the Lightning, who are off to a solid start with 14 points through 11 contests. However, Tampa Bay looks to rebound following Friday’s 5-3 loss at Minnesota.
It was the fourth time in their six road games that the Lightning allowed five goals. Tampa Bay led early at Minnesota and the game was tied 2-2 late in the third period before the Wild erupted for three goals in the final 5:23.
“There’s a lot of things to learn from this game, especially just closing out games,” forward Nick Paul said.
Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel recorded his fifth goal of the season Friday. He has three goals to go along with two assists in the last three games.
The Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy is 4-1-0 with a 1.79 goals-against average at home this season, but 2-3-0 with a 3.47 GAA on the road. He’s 1-3-1 with a 3.40 GAA at Winnipeg. Tampa Bay backup Jonas Johansson allowed five goals at New Jersey on Oct. 22 in his lone start this season.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck is 7-1-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average this season. He’s yielded two goals in each during a four-start winning streak against the Lightning.
Jets backup Eric Comrie improved to 3-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA after making 20 saves at Columbus.
–Field Level Media
