Ottawa @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 16, 2019 ) Ottawa 4, Winnipeg 3

The Winnipeg Jets face an uphill climb in the Central Division, but head into Saturday’s home contest against the Ottawa Senators following a critical victory in St. Louis. The Jets blew a 2-0 lead but got the game-winning tally from center Andrew Copp and more outstanding goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck in Thursday’s 4-2 triumph, keeping Winnipeg fifth in the division standings and one point out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Jets now open a six-game homestand and must play better on home ice, where they are 2-7-2 in their past nine games. “We have to right the ship a little bit at home,” Copp told reporters after finishing with one goal and one assist, teaming up with linemates Jansen Harkins and Jack Roslovic to produce five points. “It’s going to be really important for us to get a lot of those possible points.” The Senators bring the third-worst record in the NHL into Saturday, losing four games in a row and are 2-7-7 in their past 16 games following Thursday’s 4-1 home defeat to Colorado. “You have to come out and establish a forecheck, you’ve got to shoot pucks,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith told the media postgame. “We came out too fancy against a team that has way too much talent to play that way.”

TIME: 2 p.m. ET. TV: NHL Network, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA

ABOUT THE SENATORS (18-25-11): Ottawa entered Friday ranked 28th in the league in goals allowed per game (3.30) and has been outscored 57-39 in 16 games since Dec. 29. Goaltender Marcus Hogberg made 30 saves Thursday but dropped to 1-2-5 in his past eight games despite a .920 save percentage. Forward Anthony Duclair - who leads the Senators in goals (21) and is tied for the team lead in points (34) - only played 10:09 in Thursday’s loss, finishing without a shot on net.

ABOUT THE JETS (27-23-5): Forward Patrik Laine scored his 20th goal of the season and 130th of his career Thursday, making the 21-year-old the ninth player in NHL history to score 130 times before turning 22 years old. Hellebuyck stopped 35-of-37 shots against St. Louis to improve to 23-16-5 on the season, and in his past three appearances is 2-0-1 with a .947 save percentage. Forward Nikolaj Ehlers snapped a 10-game goal drought with his 19th goal of the season.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg lost D Luca Sbisa in the second period against St. Louis after he blocked a shot with his right knee.

2. Ottawa F Brady Tkachuk scored his 16th goal of the season Thursday, his first in the past six games.

3. Harkins scored his first career NHL goal in the first period Thursday.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Senators 2