WILD (38-30-11) at JETS (31-39-8)
TV: 8 p.m. ET; FS-N, SN, NHL.TV
Season series: The Winnipeg Jets have won three of four games against the Minnesota Wild. Drew Stafford had two goals in the Jets' 5-4 win at MTS Centre on Oct. 25. Thomas Vanek scored twice in Minnesota's 5-3 victory at Xcel Energy Center on Nov. 10. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck won his NHL debut and made 14 saves in a 3-1 win on Nov. 27, and made 24 saves in a 1-0 win on Jan. 15.
Wild team scope: Minnesota plays its final road game with an opportunity to clinch a berth into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Minnesota is five points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card from the Western Conference; Colorado has a game in hand. Minnesota can clinch by defeating Winnipeg and Colorado losing in regulation against the St. Louis Blues at home. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon (lower body) will participate in morning skate before it is determined whether he can play, coach John Torchetti said, according to the Star Tribune. A starting goaltender has not been announced; Devan Dubnyk has started 11 consecutive games and is 7-3-1 during that span. Minnesota has lost two in a row after a six-game winning streak.
Jets team scope: Winnipeg finishes its home schedule having won six of its past 23 (6-14-3). "The season is a loss," coach Paul Maurice told the Jets website. "Had we been better at home, it would not have been enough to make the playoffs solely on being better at home. It was a home-and-away issue." Winnipeg has lost four in a row (0-2-2). Blake Wheeler has a seven-game point streak (four goals, six assists) and linemate Mark Scheifele has a six-game point streak (three goals, six assists). Maurice does not expect forward Brandon Tanev, who signed a one-year contract on Wednesday, to make his NHL debut yet. Maurice has not confirmed a starting goaltender. Michael Hutchinson and Ondrej Pavelec have alternated the past five starts; Pavelec made 17 saves in a 5-4 overtime loss against the Chicago Blackhawks Friday.
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