Winnipeg @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 4, Winnipeg 3

Captain Sidney Crosby was selected to participate in his eighth NHL All-Star Game later this month, and his sizzling play is one of the primary reasons why the Pittsburgh Penguins are riding a season-high seven-game win streak. Crosby has recorded five straight multi-point performances (three goals, nine assists) for the fourth time in his career as the Penguins head into Friday's home game against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena.

Crosby scored and set up a goal for the second consecutive contest in Wednesday's 7-2 romp over the New York Rangers, improving Pittsburgh to 12-2-1 in its last 15 games. The two-time Hart Trophy winner scored a goal in the Penguins' 4-3 victory at Winnipeg on Nov. 27, boosting his career total to 53 points (17 goals, 36 assists) in 35 career encounters versus the club. Mark Scheifele tallied twice against Pittsburgh and collected 17 points during a recent eight-game stretch before being named to his first NHL All-Star Game. "We have to focus on the task at hand. Once the start of that bye week happens then maybe I'll ask a few more questions. But now it's focusing on getting wins with the Jets," said the 25-year-old Scheifele, who resides second on the team in goals (22), assists (27) and points (49).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN-Plus, TVAS, TSN3 (Winnipeg), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE JETS (25-12-2): Captain Blake Wheeler, who scored in Monday's 4-3 triumph at Edmonton, is pleased to join Scheifele and head to his second straight All-Star Game after posting team highs in assists (44) and points (50). "Scheif and I are getting the recognition for being on a really good team," the 32-year-old Wheeler said. "We get a lot of ice time. We're put in positions to succeed because we have guys that do the right things every day." Patrik Laine, who is Winnipeg's representative in the NHL's "Last Men In" competition, has just one of his team-leading 24 goals in the last seven games.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (22-12-6): Defenseman Kris Letang put his best foot forward after being selected as Pittsburgh's "Last Men In" representative for the NHL All-Star Game -- the 31-year-old Quebec native scored and set up a goal versus the Rangers to boost his season-high point streak to five games (two goals, six assists). Letang has scored nine of his 105 career tallies this season to move within three of matching Paul Coffey's franchise record for goals by a defenseman. Zach Aston-Reese, who is riding a career-long three-game point streak (two goals, one assist), snapped a tie with 5:12 remaining in the third period for the eventual game-winning goal in the previous meeting with Winnipeg.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg LW Brandon Lemieux, the son of former NHLer Claude Lemieux, tallied twice on Monday to double his career goal total.

2. Pittsburgh is 9-for-19 on the power play and 16 of 17 on the penalty kill during its seven-game win streak.

3. Jets G Connor Hellebuyck sports a 4-3-0 mark in his last seven starts despite yielding 22 goals.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Penguins 3