Minnesota @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 23, 2018 ) Winnipeg 2, Minnesota 4

The Christmas break did not do anything to help the Minnesota Wild snap out of their two-week slump, as they head to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Saturday looking to snap a five-game losing streak. Playing for the first time since defenseman Matt Dumba underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right pectoral muscle, the frustration grew for the Wild in Thursday’s 5-2 defeat at Chicago - a game in which Minnesota recorded a season-high 48 shots and hit the post twice.

“We have a lot of grade-A chances and we’re not putting them in, and we’re not getting the save when we need to get the save,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau told the media afterward. “It’s not a good combination.” The Jets also experienced a frustrating night on their return from break, seeing Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau record a hat trick in a 4-1 home loss. “Their goalie was really good, but I thought we were on the perimeter for the most part of the night in the offensive zone,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told reporters. “We lacked a little bit of that directness.” Forward Adam Lowry, returning after missing the final two games before the break with an upper-body injury, scored the lone Winnipeg goal.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE WILD (17-16-3): Minnesota has scored just five goals during its losing streak and the Dumba injury hurts on both ends of the ice, considering his 12 goals rank second among NHL defensemen. Forward Zach Parise scored the first goal for the Wild, who didn’t tally again until forward Eric Staal’s marker with 51 seconds to play Thursday. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk was yanked in the second period while falling to 0-4-1 in his last five appearances.

ABOUT THE JETS (24-11-2): Lowry’s goal was the lone offensive highlight for Winnipeg, which is the NHL’s fourth-highest scoring team at 3.46 goals per game. The Jets finished 0-for-2 on the power play against the Flames and across the last four games are 0-for-10. Forward Patrik Laine entered Friday tied for fifth in the NHL with 23 goals, but has netted only two in his past 13 games.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg G Connor Hellebuyck gave up three goals on 28 shots Thursday, but ranks tied for third in the league in wins with 16.

2. The Wild rallied from a 2-0 deficit after two periods to beat the Jets 4-2 in Minnesota on Nov. 23.

3. Minnesota is 3-9-1 in its past 13 games.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Wild 2