Final
Jets take on Lightning aiming for another home win
Oct 24, 2014 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Winnipeg Jets broke through with their first home win of the season the last time out and hope to make it two straight when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for Friday's battle at MTS Centre.The Jets opened 2014-15 with a road win over Arizona before losing their next four games, including the first two tests of their current five-game homestand.
Winnipeg was able to take advantage of winless Carolina on Tuesday, notching a 3-1 decision over the Hurricanes to improve to 2-4-0 this season.
Andrew Ladd and Adam Lowry recorded first-period goals to help the Jets down Carolina. Jiri Tlusty tallied the Hurricanes' lone goal before the end of 20 minutes, but Dustin Byfuglien completed the scoring with his second marker of the season late in the second period.
Ondrej Pavelec made 22 saves to earn the win. He expects to start again tonight and is 7-6-6 with a 2.92 goals against average in 20 career games against the Lightning.
The Jets, who are averaging a dismal 1.83 goals per game this season, could receive an offensive boost soon from the impending return of forward Evander Kane. The 23-year-old winger sprained his right knee in a collision with teammate Mark Scheifele in the season opener and expects to resume skating activities this weekend. However, there is still not timetable for Kane's return to game action.
Tampa Bay has alternated wins and losses since opening the season with a victory over Florida and the same pattern holds true so far on the club's current five-game road trip. The Lightning kicked off their swing with a 4-2 win in Vancouver before losing Monday in Edmonton. However, the Bolts rebounded with Tuesday's triumph in Calgary, posting a 2-1 overtime victory against the Flames.
Ondrej Palat scored Tuesday's game-winner goal three minutes into overtime after Valtteri Filppula tied the game for the Bolts with 2:16 left in regulation. On the winning marker, defenseman Anton Stralman drove a right point slap shot on net and Palat lifted his backhand past Karri Ramo for the deciding marker.
Evgeni Nabokov made 21 saves for the Lightning, while Jonathan Drouin, the third-overall pick in 2013, notched an assist for his first career point in his second game.
Tampa expects to start No. 1 netminder Ben Bishop tonight. He is winless (0-1-1) with a 1.94 GAA and .945 save percentage in two career games versus the Jets.
Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas could return to action tonight after sitting out the last four games with a lower body injury. Forwards Ryan Callahan (lower body) and Alex Killorn (upper body) expect to miss Friday's tilt.
Winnipeg and the Lightning split two encounters in 2013-14, with each club winning a game on the road. The Jets have won seven of the last 11 meetings in this series, dating back to when they were still known as the Atlanta Thrashers. Tampa is 2-3-1 in Winnipeg since the Jets relocated from Atlanta following the 2010-11 season.
The Lightning will complete their road trip tomorrow in Minnesota, while Winnipeg wraps its stay at MTS Centre in Sunday's meeting versus Colorado.
- TAMPA BAY: 4
WINNIPEG: 2
Final
Oct 24 10:38 PM - TAMPA BAY: 4
WINNIPEG: 1
End of 2nd
Oct 24 9:44 PM - TAMPA BAY: 1
WINNIPEG: 0
End of 1st
Oct 24 8:46 PM - TAMPA BAY: 0
WINNIPEG: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Oct 24 8:10 PM
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