After handing the Winnipeg Jets back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Florida Panthers now have a chance to send the Jets on their first extended losing streak.
The Panthers will try to complete a sweep of the home-and-home series against the Jets, who are looking to avoid a third straight loss when they meet on Tuesday night.
Winnipeg started the season strong with 15 wins in 16 games, including a perfect 7-0-0 record on the road. However, the Jets lost 4-1 to Tampa Bay on Thursday and were blown out 5-0 by Florida on Saturday.
This mini-losing streak is the first real test for the Jets after their hot start to the season, especially as their offense has struggled lately. They had scored 73 goals in the first 16 games but were shut out for the first time this season in the loss to Florida.
“I think we got away from certain aspects (Saturday) that make us good,” Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo said.
“Nothing that we were surprised about, but I think things that we’ll definitely be aware of next time. A good blueprint for us to see what we can expect on Tuesday.”
The Jets have been strong at home, outscoring opponents 37-19 and going 8-1-0 in their building. They’ve won four straight home games and allowed just one goal in their last three home contests.
“We need to bring it,” DeMelo said. “Now it’s our turn, in our building. So, I think we’re excited to get home and play them again.”
The Panthers, who are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, bounced back on Saturday after losing two home games in which they allowed 10 goals combined to New Jersey. Aleksander Barkov had a goal and two assists, Sam Reinhart recorded three assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves to earn his 45th career shutout, helping the Panthers snap an 0-3-1 skid against the Jets.
“This was not about Winnipeg for us,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice, who coached the Jets for parts of nine seasons from 2013-21. “It was about our past two games and righting the ship.
“We needed that kind of a foundation game to get back to the basics of what we’re good at.”
Florida will now head to Winnipeg looking to build on that win and extend its road winning streak to six games.
Barkov has 17 points in 10 games this season, and Reinhart has tallied 16 of his team-leading 28 points during a 10-game point streak.
Bobrovsky is 4-1-0 on the road this season, with a 2.41 goals-against average. Florida’s backup goalie, Spencer Knight, has given up at least three goals in each of his three road starts this season.
For Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck allowed five goals in the loss to Florida, matching his season-high. However, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has been excellent at home, stopping 114 of 119 shots in his current four-game home winning streak.
Kyle Connor leads the Jets with 22 points, but he has been held scoreless in five of the last six games, including two straight losses and a three-game scoreless streak at home. Connor does have seven goals and 13 points in 12 career games against Florida.
The Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues, who scored his fifth goal of the season on Saturday, has four goals and eight assists in 11 career games against the Jets.
