Winnipeg @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 26, 2019 ) Minnesota 3, Winnipeg 2

After ending the home portion of their schedule with three straight losses, the Winnipeg Jets nearly began their season-ending four-game road trip with another setback. The Jets managed to prevail and maintain their lead in the Central Division, and now look to extend it when they visit the desperate Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

Winnipeg squandered a two-goal lead in Chicago on Monday but came away with a 4-3 victory after Kevin Hayes scored 3:38 into overtime. Jack Roslovic ended his 22-game goal-scoring drought by tallying twice for the Jets, who are two points ahead of both St. Louis and Nashville in the Central with three games to play. Minnesota needs a victory in the worst way as it trails Colorado by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with three games remaining. The Wild, who have lost three of their last four overall contests and been shut out in two of the last three, have dropped three straight and 12 of 14 at home (2-8-4).

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), FS North Plus (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE JETS (46-29-4): Nikolaj Ehlers failed to land on the scoresheet in Monday's win, extending is point drought to six games. The 23-year-old Dane is one tally away from his third consecutive 20-goal season and needs three points to reach 200 for his career. Captain Blake Wheeler leads the team with 89 points and is three away from eclipsing the career high he set last season.

ABOUT THE WILD (36-34-9): Zach Parise, who leads the team with 26 goals and 59 points, has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury but hopes to return to the lineup on Tuesday. "Until we're out (of the playoff race) - I'm not gonna sit on the sidelines when you feel like you could be playing," the 34-year-old left wing told reporters on Monday, stating he is feeling much better. "As long as we're in it, I'm going to do my best to get back." Minnesota signed center Nico Sturm to a one-year, entry-level contract on Monday and could plug him into the lineup before season's end.

OVERTIME

1. Wild LW Jason Zucker has been kept off the scoresheet in six of his last seven games.

2. Roslovic had not scored since recording the first multi-goal performance of his career on Feb. 2 - a hat trick against Anaheim.

3. Minnesota assigned RW Matt Read, who has recorded just one goal in 12 games with the club, to Iowa of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Wild 1