TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES Charlie Lindgren and the St. Louis Blues just keep on rolling.
After a home-and-home sweep of the Dallas Stars, the Blues improved to 5-0-1 in their last six games overall and 8-0-1 in their last nine at home.
"Winning is fun," said Vladimir Tarasenko, who had two goals in Friday's 4-1 win against the Stars. "The atmosphere, the mood, the confidence, it's great to keep winning. We have a tough trip coming up, so looking forward to the next game."
Lindgren became the first goalie in Blues history to win each of his first five games, giving Blues Head Coach Craig Berube a tough decision as Jordan Binnington is now healthy following clearance from the COVID-19 protocols.
Before leaving for the three-game trip to Canada, the Blues learned Oskar Sundqvist would be out at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. But, the team could be getting a handful of injured players back soon. Berube suggested that David Perron, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Jake Walman and Ville Husso would join the Blues on the road and he would "see who is available" to play.
JETS The Winnipeg Jets shocked the hockey world Friday when Head Coach Paul Maurice announced he would resign to allow the team to have a new voice. Maurice had been behind the Jets bench for nine seasons.
Winnipeg is currently in fifth place in the Central Division with a 13-11-5 record but has won only four of its last 14 games. Former Blues forward Dave Lowry, previously Winnipeg's assistant coach, will serve as the team's interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Kyle Connor leads the Jets with 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games. Pierre-Luc Dubois (25 points) and Nikolaj Ehlers (20) rank second and third on the club, respectively.
The team was without captain Blake Wheeler in Friday's game against the Washington Capitals. Wheeler is day-to-day with an injury.
HEAD-TO-HEAD Jordan Binnington turned in one of the best goaltending performances of the season on Nov. 9 when he stopped 39 shots to help the Blues to a 3-2 shootout win in Winnipeg. Binnington also stopped all four shooters he faced in the shootout to secure the win.
The Blues are 3-1-2 in their last six games in Winnipeg.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Torey Krug, who is set to play in his 600th career NHL game on Sunday. Krug has 11 points (five goals, six assists) and has a plus-6 rating in 13 career games against the Jets.
JETS Connor Hellebuyck, who has carried the load for the Jets in goal again this season. Hellebuyck has played in 23 games this season, posting a 10-9-4 record with a 2.72 goals-against average.
The reeling Winnipeg Jets will try to give interim coach Dave Lowry his first victory when they host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon.
Lowry replaced Paul Maurice Friday and lost his debut 5-2 to the Washington Capitals. The Jets were stunned by Maurice's sudden resignation and that showed on the ice.
"For a lot of us, even myself just getting here this year, when you think about Winnipeg Jets hockey, you think of Paul Maurice leading the way," Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon said. "For us, trying to get going for tonight, that first period, we were maybe a little bit just kind of in the moment of everything going on, but as the game went on, we got better."
That pace gives the Jets something to build on as they settle in under Lowry.
"I thought we did play a fast game," Lowry said. "When you put up 40 shots, you're doing something right. I thought it might have taken us a little while to get it going, but the second period I thought we did a good job of playing fast, managing the puck, creating opportunities."
Since starting the season 9-3-3, the Jets have won just four of 14 games while going 4-8-2.
Meanwhile the Blues have gone 7-1-3 in their last 11 games. They are coming off of consecutive 4-1 victories over the Dallas Stars.
"Winning is fun," said Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored twice Friday to give him four goals and five assists in his last six games. "I think it's enough to say it's fun. The atmosphere, the mood, the confidence, it's great to keep winning. We have a tough trip coming up, so looking forward to next game."
The Blues' roster has been depleted by injuries and COVID-19 protocols, but they have gotten a lift from American Hockey League call-ups Nathan Walker, Dakota Joshua and Alexei Toropchenko.
Those three have formed an aggressive checking line that helped the Blues get back to their basics.
"The physical play has been huge really for our identity and the way we're winning right now in my opinion," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "Joshua, Toropchenko, Walker -- it's rubbing off on everybody in my opinion with the forechecking and physical play.
"I thought that we did the same thing tonight that we did in Dallas. We eventually wore 'em down and won the game late."
Goaltender Jordan Binnington came off of COVID-19 protocol and backed up Charlie Lindgren Friday. He could make his first start since Nov. 30.
On the other hand, Lindgren, who started the season as the team's No. 4 goaltender, has gone 5-0-0 with a 1.22 goals-against average as Binnington's replacement. So Berube could ride the hot hand.
"He's answered the bell, that's for sure," Berube said. "He's coming in there and he's doing a great job for us, making saves he's supposed to make. You know, I can't really say much more than that."
Injuries continue to be an issue for the Jets, who lost forwards David Gustafsson (lower-body) and Evgeny Svechnikov (undisclosed) during their loss to the Capitals.
