Winnipeg @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2019 ) Winnipeg 6, Minnesota 0

The Minnesota Wild currently are five games into a stretch where they play 18 of 22 contests at home, but enter Saturday’s home matchup with the Winnipeg Jets needing a spark after losing two straight. The Wild are 1-3 on home ice during the start of the stretch, which began with an ugly 6-0 loss to the Jets on Dec. 21, and gave up the game’s first three goals in a 4-1 loss Tuesday to Toronto to enter the new year fifth in the Central Division.

Minnesota is 5-6-1 in its past 12 games since a five-game winning streak from Nov. 26-Dec. 5, giving up 3.7 goals per game in that span while going 3-3-1 at home. “We have to reset here and find the mojo back that brought us that confidence that we were tough to beat at home,” Wild captain Mikko Koivu told reporters after Tuesday’s loss, which dropped Minnesota to 10-4-3 on home ice this season. Winnipeg opened its 2020 schedule with a dud on Thursday against Toronto, a 6-3 loss in which goaltender Connor Hellebuyck gave up five goals on 17 shots and the Jets were exploited repeatedly on defense. “We just made a couple mistakes that cost us a couple of goals,” Jets forward Patrik Laine told the media postgame after scoring his 15th goal in the loss. “Other than that, we had some really good chances, put up a lot of shots.”

TIME: 2 p.m. ET. TV: FS North, FS Wisconsin, TSN3

ABOUT THE JETS (22-16-3): Winnipeg finished Thursday with a season-high 48 shots on goal in falling to 2-5-1 in its past eight games, including a career-high 13 shots by Laine. Forward Kyle Connor finished with a goal and an assist, giving him seven goals across his past five games with at least one in four contests. Center Mark Scheifele also had a goal and an assist Thursday, giving him six points (two goals) in his past two games and 10 (three goals) in his past six contests.

ABOUT THE WILD (19-17-5): Defenseman Ryan Suter scored Minnesota’s lone goal Tuesday, giving him two goals with an assist during his current three-game point streak and 10 points across his past 10 games. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped 25-of-28 shots to lose his second straight start, falling to 3-2-0 since he returned to the team Dec. 19. Center Eric Staal has been held off the scoresheet the past two games, but leads the team with 32 points - including seven goals and four assists in his past 10 contests.

OVERTIME

1. The Jets, who are 12-7-1 away from home, open a four-game road trip and play seven of their next 10 on the road.

2. Koivu registered an assist in 14:47 in his return after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury.

3. Winnipeg has outscored the Wild 11-2 in winning the first two meetings this season.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Wild 3