Pittsburgh @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2019 ) Winnipeg 4, Pittsburgh 1

The Winnipeg Jets did just fine with a difficult road schedule to open the season, and they look to build on that momentum when they begin their five-game homestand on Sunday against the injury-depleted Pittsburgh Penguins. The Jets split the four games of their season-opening trek, which included a 4-1 win at Pittsburgh, and rallied from a two-goal deficit on Saturday to post a 3-2 win in Chicago thanks to Mark Scheifele’s goal 47 seconds into overtime.

Despite the absence of top defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (team suspension) and Bryan Little (concussion), Winnipeg has won four of its six contests, and Scheifele has played a big part with six points during the team's current three-game winning streak. The Jets’ road victory on Tuesday was just the second in their last eight meetings with the Penguins, who have their own injury problems with four regular forwards sidelined - including former Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin (leg) and Alex Galchenyuk (lower body). Pittsburgh still found a way to post a 7-4 victory at Minnesota on Saturday as Sam Lafferty recorded his first three career points (goal, two assists) in his third NHL game while Adam Johnson scored his first career goal. Captain Sidney Crosby added a tally and an assist in the victory and leads the team with eight points, registering at least one in all five contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, TVA, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet360 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (3-2-0): Pittsburgh also is without Nick Bjugstad (lower body) and Bryan Rust (hand), which gave Joe Blandisi on Saturday the opportunity to score his first goal since 2016-17 while with New Jersey. Defenseman Kris Letang registered a goal and an assist in the victory at Minnesota and is second on the team with six points while Patric Hornqvist also notched one of each. Matt Murray has played in all five games for the Penguins and owns a .928 save percentage, but backup Tristan Jarry (14-8-3 career) could make his first start on Sunday.

ABOUT THE JETS (4-2-0): Patrik Laine was kept off the scoresheet for the first time this season on Saturday but leads the team with 10 points after recording three assists at Pittsburgh and scoring two goals while setting up two others in the 5-2 win over Minnesota. Defenseman Josh Morrissey has registered an assist in each of the last two games after missing the previous two with an upper-body injury. Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 27 shots on Saturday to improve to 3-0-0 but could give way to backup Laurent Brossoit (1-1-0, .889 save percentage) in the second contest of Winnipeg's back-to-back set.

OVERTIME

1. Penguins rookie D John Marino has found a spot in the lineup the last three games, recording two shots and an even plus/minus rating.

2. Winnipeg D Neal Pionk, who was acquired from the New York Rangers over the summer, has registered five points in his last five contests.

3. Pittsburgh is 5-for-21 on the power play while Winnipeg has converted twice in 15 attempts.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Penguins 2