Winnipeg @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 18, 2018 ) Winnipeg 1, Los Angeles 4

March has provided stiff tests in rapid succession for the Winnipeg Jets, who have played eight straight games against teams currently occupying a postseason slot. After winning five of those contests, the Jets begin a three-game road trip on Monday against the club that resides in the basement of the Western Conference: the Los Angeles Kings.

Winnipeg forward Mark Scheifele boosted his point total to 10 (three goals, seven assists) this month with his club-best 34th goal of the season in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Calgary. "You just have to have that attitude that it's a playoff game from here on in. You've got to ramp yourself up, you've got to be ready for that grind. We've done that lately," said the 26-year-old Scheifele, who tallied in the Jets' 2-1 win over the Kings on Oct. 9. While Winnipeg is nursing a one-point lead over Nashville atop the Central Division, Los Angeles has made itself comfortable in the conference's cellar with 15 losses in its last 17 games (2-11-4). "It's the same story every (expletive) game here. Get a lead, give a lead up. So we can sit here and talk about it, but we've been talking about it for a while now," said frustrated forward Jeff Carter, who saw his team surrender two late goals in Saturday's 4-3 setback versus Florida.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE JETS (42-25-4): Captain Blake Wheeler set up Scheifele's late first-period goal to add to his team-leading totals in assists (67) and points (87) by registering his 19th point (eight goals, 11 assists) in his last dozen games. Mathieu Perreault, who scored in Winnipeg's 4-1 setback to Los Angeles on Dec. 18, netted a power-play goal midway into the second period against the Flames that stood up as the game-winning tally. "The 2-1 games, you know, this is playoff-type hockey," the 31-year-old Perreault told reporters. "That's what we want. We're not looking to score five, six goals and make it like an open game. We like the 2-1 games where we defend hard and bury them when we get a chance."

ABOUT THE KINGS (25-38-8): Carter did have reason to celebrate prior to his team's latest loss, as the 34-year-old set up Brendan Leipsic's early third-period goal to become the 241st player to reach 700 points in his career. Captain Anze Kopitar scored and set up a goal versus the Panthers, allowing him to reach the 20-goal plateau for the 10th time in his career while his 30th assist permitted him to hit that mark in each of his 13 seasons with the club. Former captain Dustin Brown also scored and set up a goal on Saturday, giving him six points (four goals, two assists) this month.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg RW Patrik Laine is mired in an eight-game goal drought this month, although he does have six assists.

2. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty has seven of his club-high 35 assists in his last eight contests.

3. Jets G Connor Hellebuyck has turned aside 63 of 67 shots to win his last two games after yielding five goals in his previous start.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Kings 1