Winnipeg @ Columbus preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 31, 2019 ) Columbus 3, Winnipeg 4

Having averted a third three-game losing streak within the last month, the Winnipeg Jets will be hard-pressed to maintain their slim advantage atop the Central Division. After facing five consecutive opponents who are fighting for a postseason berth, the Jets will open a rugged four-game road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

Winnipeg won for only the fourth time in its last 12 games (4-6-2) by topping Nashville 5-3 on Friday in a showdown for first place in the division. "It's getting toward the end of the year, time to ramp up the enthusiasm a little bit," Jets captain Blake Wheeler told reporters. "It's March, time to have a little bit of fun." The Jets will also play at red-hot Tampa Bay, Carolina and Washington after facing Columbus, which continues to struggle at home and was crushed by Edmonton 4-0 on Saturday for its second loss in three games. The sloppy performance by the Blue Jackets inspired a Bill Belichick-esque postgame assessment from coach John Tortorella that lasted less than a minute: "We're moving right by it. I'm not gonna pick it apart, talk about what's good or bad, we're moving right by it," Tortorella told reporters.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Winnipeg), FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE JETS (38-22-4): Kevin Hayes, who was acquired from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, made an impression in his second game with Winnipeg by capping a three-point effort with an empty-net goal against the Predators. "He plays both ways and he's good at it," forward Nikolaj Ehlers told reporters. "He knows what he needs to do, and I think even though we lost last game, he played really (well) and he can help us a lot." Mark Scheifele matched Hayes with a three-point performance of his own, including his team-leading 32nd goal that tied his career high.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (36-25-3): It's not difficult to see why Columbus is jockeying with Metropolitan Division-rival Pittsburgh for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Saturday's loss was the Blue Jackets' seventh in 10 games at Nationwide Arena and dropped their home record to 17-15-2. "Our start has to be better, especially at home," captain Nick Foligno told reporters. "It seems like on the road, we’re already fortified. We know how we’ve got to play and, boom, our starts are good there. Well, at home, no excuse. We know what we’re doing wrong. We’ve just got to fix it."

OVERTIME

1. Jets C Adam Lowry received a two-game suspension on Saturday for high-sticking Nashville's Filip Forsberg.

2. Blue Jackets LW Artemi Panarin has recorded six goals and eight assists versus the Jets after notching one of each in a 4-3 loss at Winnipeg on Jan. 31.

3. Jets G Connor Hellebuyck missed Friday's contest due to the flu but is expected to start versus Columbus.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Jets 2