Montreal @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 7, 2019 ) Winnipeg 2, Montreal 5

The Winnipeg Jets find themselves clinging to first place in the Central Division, but after a disheartening loss Thursday they must rebound quickly and snap out of a two-game skid when Montreal Canadiens pay a visit Saturday. The Jets found a way to blow a two-goal lead on home ice in the final period of a 5-4 loss to the Islanders, giving up the tying and winning goals 33 seconds apart to drop to 5-5-0 in their past 10 games.

“We took a game we were in complete control of and let them back in,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told the media after the game, as the Jets lead in the Central remained at two points over Nashville and four on St. Louis entering Friday’s games. “If you turn that many pucks over, that’s what’s going to happen.” The Canadiens also suffered a costly defeat Thursday - falling 6-2 at Columbus - pushing the Blue Jackets past Montreal into the second and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Canadiens are 4-1-1 in their past six games but do not hold the tiebreaker with Columbus, further raising the urgency of Saturday’s game. “As a team, we know we have to be better than that,” Montreal coach Claude Julien told reporters afterward. “As I told the guys, we need to park this and really focus on Winnipeg because we’ve got to go to Winnipeg and win a hockey game.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CITY, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 360, TVA

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (41-29-8): Defenseman Brett Kulak scored a goal for the second consecutive game and also recorded an assist Thursday for Montreal, which led 2-1 in the second period before Columbus scored five unanswered goals. Forward Andrew Shaw assisted on Kulak’s goal, giving him one goal and six assists in his past six games. Goaltender Carey Price gave up five goals on 29 shots, dropping his March record to 7-5-1.

ABOUT THE JETS (45-28-4): Center Adam Lowry (two goals, one assist) and forward Brandon Tanev (one goal, two assists) each finished with three points Thursday, but the Jets fell to 3-3-0 in their past six home games (two losses coming on goals in the final two minutes). Center Mark Scheifele recorded his team-high 36th goal and with 81 points sits one shy of his career high set in 2016-17. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 39-of-44 shots and is 5-4-0 in 11 games this month.

OVERTIME

1. Shaw played his 500th NHL game Thursday while F Max Domi, who also assisted on Kulak’s goal, played his 300th.

2. Winnipeg F Blake Wheeler picked up his 69th assist Thursday, snapping a four-game point drought.

3. After Saturday the Jets finish the season with a four-game road trip, while Montreal plays two of its final three at home.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Jets 3