Winnipeg @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2018 ) Arizona 3, Winnipeg 5

The Winnipeg Jets head to Arizona for a Sunday evening matchup with the Coyotes after a performance that more closely resembled the team that reached last season’s Western Conference finals. Nikolaj Ehlers returned from injury and scored on his first shift, Patrik Laine shattered a long scoring slump with two goals, and the Jets snapped a three-game losing streak - winning for only the third time in the past nine games - with a 6-3 triumph at Vegas.

“That was a great win to get back on track,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler told reporters postgame, after the Jets leapfrogged past Nashville and back into first place in the Central Division entering Saturday, five points behind Calgary in the race for conference lead. “Everyone did the right things that they needed to do.” The Coyotes have nosed their way back into the playoff chance by going 5-2-0 in their past seven games, the latest a 3-2 overtime victory Thursday at Vancouver that provides plenty of momentum entering a season-long seven-game homestand. “We’ve got to stay in the race by winning some games,” Arizona coach Rick Tocchet told reporters after Friday’s practice. “We do like to play on the road. We’ve got to get that mentality at home.” The Coyotes, who entered Saturday three points behind Minnesota for the final West wild-card spot, is just 11-14-3 at home this season.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), FS Arizona

ABOUT THE JETS (37-20-4): Laine was moved to the top line as Winnipeg juggled its pairings looking for a spark, and he responded with his first two goals in 16 games. Ehlers - playing for the first time since Jan. 4 due to an upper-body injury - logged a little over 14 minutes of ice time on the second line, while three Jets (Wheeler, Bryan Little and Jacob Trouba) recorded multiple assists. Wheeler’s 59 assists rank second in the NHL through Friday and the forward has points in eight of his past 12 games.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (28-28-5): One critical aspect for Arizona’s playoff hopes is continued strong play from goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who has won 11-of-17 starts since Jan. 1 while Antti Raanta heals from a lower-body injury. Forward Alex Galchenyuk scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season 1:54 into overtime against Vancouver, and has eight points (five goals) in his past seven games. Center Clayton Keller leads Arizona with 38 points, but has just one point (an assist) in his past nine contests.

OVERTIME

1. After Sunday, five of the final six opponents Arizona faces on its homestand are not in playoff position.

2. Little’s second assist Friday gave him 300 for his NHL career, while coach Paul Maurice’s 685th career victory moved him into eighth place in NHL history.

3. Keller scored twice in the first meeting of the season between the two teams Oct. 20 in Winnipeg, but Wheeler’s empty-net goal sealed a 5-3 Jets victory.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Coyotes 3