Winnipeg @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2020 ) Ottawa 2, Winnipeg 5

Defenseman Dylan DeMelo won't have long to wait to see his former team. The Winnipeg Jets' new acquisition will take the ice on Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, two days removed from being traded by the Senators for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

"For me, no matter who I'm playing with, no matter what team I'm playing on, I just try to do the best I can, play hard, and play to my strengths," said DeMelo, who is a much-needed right-shot defenseman for Winnipeg. The Jets have answered a season-high five-game skid to conclude January with a 6-2-1 record in February to move within one point of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg begins a four-game road trip in Canada's capital, with the home team having responded to losing 16 of 18 contests (2-9-7) by winning three of their last four. "We're certainly not going to be as good without (DeMelo)," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "He's a very smart, underrated player. I think that's why Winnipeg goes and picks him up. He's going to help them. He's calm under pressure."

TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: TSN3, TSN5, RDS2

ABOUT THE JETS (31-25-5): Captain Blake Wheeler was quick to cite the chemistry he enjoys with linemate Mark Scheifele after he highlighted his 700th game in franchise history by collecting two goals and an assist in Tuesday's 6-3 victory over Los Angeles. "You know I love playing with (Scheifele) and I think the feeling's mutual. It's like riding a bike," said Wheeler, who reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh straight season -- one shy of Ilya Kovalchuk for the most such campaigns in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history. Patrik Laine has scored 10 goals in his last 13 games, highlighted by his three power-play tallies in Winnipeg's 5-2 win over Ottawa on Feb. 8.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (21-28-11): Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who erupted for 10 goals in 10 games during a sizzling stretch in November, appears to be heating up again. The 27-year-old Ottawa native reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career by scoring in the first encounter with the Jets. Pageau added three goals and three assists in his last two games, including two of each in the Senators' 7-4 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg Kyle Connor has pulled even in points with Scheifele (61) after collecting four goals and six assists in his past seven games, including one and three, respectively, against Ottawa on Feb. 8.

2. Senators LW Brady Tkachuk, who set up Pageau's goal against the Jets, carries a four-game point streak (two goals, five assists) into Wednesday's contest.

3. Winnipeg has surrendered the first goal in each of its last five contests.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Senators 2