Two of the NHL’s premier squads will do battle when the Dallas Stars visit the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
With four days rest to their name, the Stars enter the contest with five wins over their past six games, while the Jets have three wins out of their past four outings after dropping three straight.
Dallas’ preeminent trade-deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen has fit in perfectly in his first two games with the team.
The Finnish forward has two goals and one assist, after tallying just two goals and four assists during his short 13-game stint with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Another in-season addition, Mikael Granlund, also played a critical part in the Stars’ 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.
Granlund scored his first goal in 13 games since coming over from the San Jose Sharks along with defenseman Cody Ceci on Feb. 1.
“It was right at the end of the second period, so got the lead for the third and for me, there’s been quite a bit of chances, so it was good to get one finally,” Granlund said following the contest.
Jason Robertson extended his point streak to eight games (eight goals, seven assists) with a goal and Thomas Harley scored the game’s opening marker.
Stars standout goaltender Jake Oettinger should return to the crease after backup Casey DeSmith made 22 saves in Sunday’s victory.
Oettinger sports an impressive 6-2-1 career record against the Jets with a 2.23 goals-against average to go along with a .916 save percentage.
Oettinger will need to be on the top of his game with Connor Hellebuyck likely guarding the cage at the opposite end.
The two-time Vezina-winning netminder leads the NHL in wins (38), GAA (1.99) and save percentage (.927).
Hellebuyck stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced in the Jets’ latest home victory, 2-1 over the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
Gabriel Vilardi and Vladislav Namestnikov scored for the Jets and Cole Perfetti picked up a pair of assists in the win.
“It was a tight game, really tight,” Perfetti remarked about the low-scoring affair. “They’re a good team and there wasn’t really much either way, and some good goaltending, and physical. It felt pretty physical and fast. That’s what most of those games are going to be like now coming down the stretch, so it’s a good one to prepare us.”
Friday’s contest will be the Jets’ final of a two-game homestand before they leave the nest for a three-game Pacific Division road trip.
Winnipeg’s top goal-scorer, Mark Scheifele will be looking to get back on track after being held off the scoresheet in back-to-back contests and totaling just two goals over his past seven games.
The Stars’ offense has been clicking of late, compiling three or more goals in 11 straight outings, but will continue to be without center Roope Hintz, who is currently dealing with a facial injury.
The Stars have the upper hand in terms of recent history, winning four of the previous six meetings, with all six games containing five combined goals or fewer.
Dallas took the most recent matchup 3-1 on home ice back on Dec. 1.
