Winnipeg Jets host Ottawa Senators in a must-win game – NHL Preview
Winnipeg Jets are in a must-win situation in the current National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and even a single defeat could eliminate them from the playoff contention.
Not only that, even if they are able to secure victories in the rest of the games, a playoff berth is still not guaranteed for them.
On the other hand, Ottawa Senators have successfully found their place among the top eight teams of the Eastern Conference and they are focusing on the task of retaining that position.
Both teams are going to play against each other on Monday, March 26, 2012, at MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Jets
They have lost three out of their last four games and those defeats badly hurt their playoff contention.
Jets are ranked at 10th spot in the Eastern Conference with 78 points after 75 games and are six points behind the eighth-ranked Washington Capitals. Buffalo Sabres, ranked at ninth, spot also have 84 points.
In their last game, Jets got defeated by Nashville Predators.
Predators got two goals in the second period and one in the final in which Jets scored their only goal of the game.
Jets’ coach, Claude Noel, said after the game:
"You look at the game, we got shots, but very few quality shots, very few scoring chances. It was very little penetration inside the dots. Very few second and third opportunities, and I thought they did a good job of keeping us to the outside. It was a tough
night to get on the inside of anything."
Senators
They are ranked at seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with 86 points after 76 games. A playoff berth is still not guaranteed for them and complacency can hurt them.
In their last game, Senators defeated Pittsburgh Penguins to snap their three-game losing streak.
Against Penguins, Senators scored a goal in the first period, but conceded two. However, Senators scored four goals in the second while giving away one.
Senators added three more goals in the final period while giving away one and won the game, 8-4.
Senators’ coach, Paul MacLean, said after the game:
"Usually when we win one, we win a few, and that's the confidence we take from tonight.”
Predictions
Both teams are evenly poised, but Jets can be given a slight edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Senators win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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