Winnipeg Jets News

Hellebuyck allowed a weak goal from Darnell Nurse late in the third period, ending his shutout bid in an eventual 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Despite losing two consecutive starts, Hellebuyck has been tremendous lately, allowing only 11 total goals in his last six games (4-2-0), posting a stellar .941 SV%. Hellebuyck will look to improve on those totals in a favourable matchup Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost seven of their last nine (2-7-0) and rank third-worst in the league offensively (2.57 GF / GP).

Namestnikov exited Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, playing only 11:53, after an awkward collision with Darnell Nurse and will miss Saturday's game vs. Chicago as he is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Namestnikov had been playing with Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti on the Jets' second line, but his status is out Saturday and doubtful Monday. He has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 22 games this season.

Skinner will look for his fourth straight victory as he prepares to be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday. His current stretch marks his second three-winning streak this season, and he has played significantly better as a whole, dating back to the firing of Jay Woodcroft and Jack Campbell being reassigned to the AHL. In his last three games, Skinner has saved 69 of 75 shots (.920 SV%). The Oilers are -114 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that was shutout 2-0 by the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Hellebuyck played well in a goalie-duel on Tuesday but ultimately came up short, allowing two goals on 21 shots (.905 SV%), losing 2-0 to Jake Oettinger and the Dallas Stars. Despite his most recent loss, Hellebuyck has been on a different level lately, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last four starts (3-1-0), recording a tremendous .948 SV%. That said, Hellebuyck and the Jets will have one of their tougher tests to date as +105 home underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers, who have won three straight and outscored their opposition 18-6.

Vilardi has not played since October 17th, the third game of the season, when he suffered an MCL sprain. His status for Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers remains to be determined but he would add a noticeable offensive punch to a Jets team that already ranks eighth in the league offensively (3.38 GF / GP). Before his injury, Vilardi was seeing deployment on the top powerplay unit, a spot he would likely reclaim in favour of Cole Perfetti.

Skinner has remained inconsistent since the demotion of Jack Campbell but has had significantly more good than bad in recent games, including saving 46 of 48 shots (.958 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0). Skinner and the Oilers are -145 home favourites against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has struggled lately and played last night, losing 2-1 in overtime to the Calgary Flames. Both teams are trending in opposite directions as the Golden Knights have lost four of their last five (1-2-2) while the Oilers have won two straight, outscoring their opposition by a whopping 13-2 margin.

Hellebuyck has been tremendous lately and will look for his fifth consecutive victory when he starts on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. After an uncharacteristically poor start to the season, registering a .890 SV% in his first nine games (5-3-1), Hellebuyck has flipped the switch and returned to his Vezina-caliber form, posting a .933 SV% in his six games since (5-1-0). The Jets are slight +109 home underdogs against a Stars team that defeated them 3-2 on November 11th.

Vilardi has not played since October 17th due to a sprained MCL but appears to be nearing his return as he participated in practice on Tuesday. Cole Perfetti has been the main benefactor of Vilardi's injury, replacing him on the top powerplay unit. It is unclear if Vilardi will retake his spot on the powerplay, but if he does, it will likely have a great impact on Perfetti's production, as he has scored 16 points (7G / 9A) in the 17 games Vilardi has not been in the lineup.

Hellebuyck is coming off a stellar performance, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. After a shaky start to the season, in which Hellebuyck posted a .890 SV% in nine games (5-3-0), he has looked more like himself recently with a .918 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0). The Jets will have their hands full on Friday as +124 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team that is second in the Atlantic division and is 7-2-0 in their last nine games.

Hellebuyck is coming off a stellar performance, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. After a shaky start to the season, in which Hellebuyck posted a .890 SV% in nine games (5-3-0), he has looked more like himself recently with a .918 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0). The Jets will have their hands full on Friday as +124 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team that is second in the Atlantic division and is 7-2-0 in their last nine games.