Playoff implications will be in focus when the Winnipeg Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday in Winnipeg.
Philadelphia (40-27-12, 92 points) holds the third and final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, sitting one point ahead of the Islanders, two ahead of Columbus and three clear of Washington. Each of those teams has three games remaining. The Flyers missed an opportunity to create separation Thursday, falling 6-3 to the Detroit Red Wings.
Philadelphia took six penalties in the loss, surrendering three power-play goals and a short-handed marker.
“I’m a little disappointed,” said coach Rick Tocchet after the game. “I mean obviously we’ve got to let it go. We’re still in a position of controlling our own destiny. Very undisciplined tonight. I’m really disappointed in some guys that were undisciplined… and their best players played better than our best players.”
Despite the setback, the Flyers have responded well to losses, posting a 5-1-0 record following defeats since the Olympic break.
“We’ve been a pretty resilient group all year,” said forward Christian Dvorak. “I think we’ve done a good job with that, just learning from our losses, learning from our mistakes and moving on from it… it’ll be a good lesson for us and get back at it on Saturday.”
For Winnipeg (35-31-12, 82 points), the stakes are just as high.
The Jets have won three straight and seven of their past nine as they try to stay in the playoff race. Their most recent victory came Thursday, a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.
“There is no quit in our group,” Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey told 680 CJOB Radio. “We’ve been competing and battling really hard since the Olympic break and clawing to try and get back into this race and into a playoff spot. Obviously there is a lot of work left, but all we can do is control trying to basically win every night here as we close this stretch out.”
Winnipeg sits three points back of the final Western Conference wild-card spot, held by the Los Angeles Kings, with the Nashville Predators two points ahead of the Jets. Nashville has three games remaining, while Winnipeg and Los Angeles each have four to play.
Jets coach Scott Arniel said the push will require a full team effort from every player up and down the roster.
“The guys are doing a good job,” said Arniel after Thursday’s win. “Getting into shot lanes, taking hits to make the play, sacrificing when they have to. That’s all the stuff that makes it hard on the opposition and also fires up our bench when guys are doing that stuff. It’s not just five, six, seven guys. Everybody is doing it in their own little way they’re contributing.”
On the injury front, Winnipeg defenseman Elias Salomonsson remains in concussion protocol and has not resumed practice, while winger Gustav Nyquist is still skating in a non-contact jersey due to an undisclosed ailment. Philadelphia winger Nikita Grebenkin could return after missing the last 10 games since March 21 with an upper-body injury.
The Jets won the meeting in Philadelphia, 5-2, back on Oct. 16 as Mark Schiefele let the way with a pair of goals.
