St. Louis @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2018 ) Winnipeg 8, St. Louis 4

The Winnipeg Jets return home Friday to face the St. Louis Blues after a successful road trip that pushed their winning streak to a season-high four games. The Jets swept a three-game swing through New Jersey and New York despite missing several key defensemen because of injuries, finishing the trip with back-to-back goals from Jacob Trouba and Adam Lowry early in the third period of Tuesday’s 3-1 victory at the Islanders - Winnipeg’s fifth victory in six games.

“We believe in our system and when you believe in something, good things start to come,” Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck told reporters after Tuesday’s game. “It’s huge to get all six points on the three games here. A key for your season.” The Blues are seeking a similar hot streak as losses in seven of their past nine games have sank St. Louis into the Central Division cellar. The struggle continued with Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout loss at home to Edmonton with a 2-0 lead evaporating as the Blues blew a two-goal lead for the fourth time this season. “We just stopped making plays,” St. Louis interim coach Craig Berube told the media afterward. “When you stop making plays, you get the puck out and they just pound it back in and that’s their game.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NHL Network; FS Midwest (St. Louis), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE BLUES (9-13-4): Center Ryan O’Reilly did not register a point Wednesday for only the second time in six games, but leads St. Louis in goals (12) and assists (16). Goaltender Jake Allen stopped 34-of-36 shots against the Oilers but suffered his third loss in his past four games, and has surrendered 10 goals in that span. St. Louis was ranked sixth in the NHL in penalty kill (82.8 percent), but is allowing 3.35 goals per game (24th in the league entering Thursday).

ABOUT THE JETS (17-8-2): Hellebuyck has shaken off a brief slump, winning his past three starts and making 27 saves Tuesday. Forward Patrik Laine entered Thursday leading the NHL in goals (21), five of those coming in a road victory over the Blues on Nov. 24. Forward Nikolaj Ehlers has four goals in his past four games, helping support a defense corps that featured three players Tuesday who started the season in the AHL (Cam Schilling, Nelson Nogier, Sami Niku).

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis F Jaden Schwartz (upper body), F Alexander Steen (concussion) and D Carl Gunnarsson (upper body) took part in Thursday’s morning skate, but are listed as day-to-day.

2. Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters Thursday that D Dustin Byfuglien (concussion), D Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), D Josh Morrissey (lower body) and F Andrew Copp (concussion) could return Friday.

3. The Blues have allowed four goals or more in four of their past five losses, including eight in last month’s setback to Winnipeg.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Blues 2