The Winnipeg Jets (35-34-8) embark on their final road trip of the season starting tonight in Carolina against the Hurricanes (31-31-8).
TSN 1290's coverage begins with Hustler & Lawless live from the PNC Arena in Raleigh at 3pm ct. Rick Ralph hosts the official Jets pregame show at 5pm ct. Shane Hnidy and I will have the play-by-play at 6pm ct.
Winnipeg is looking to end a three-game losing streak and have lost five of their last six games which has frustrated head coach Claude Noel
"I'm tired of wallowing in the basement, I'm tired of wallowing in disappointment and feeling sorry for ourselves that things have not gone the way we were hoping they would go," said Noel. "It's time to move forward here, I don't care what you want to play for, whether it's pride or proving you can be a plus player, so we're expecting a good effort".
Chris Mason starts in goal. Ondrej Pavelec has played the last 13 consecutive games. Mason has a 3-1 record against Carolina this season with a 1.56 goals against average.
Nik Antropov returns to action after missing the last five games due to a injury. Antropov is on a three-game goal scoring streak.
Ben Maxwell, who is celebrating his 24th birthday today, will be a healthy scratch.
Jets Projected Lines:
Ladd-Little-Wheeler
Kane-Burmistrov-Miettinen
Glass-Slater-Machacek
Wellwood-Antropov-Stapleton
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Hainsey-Bogosian
Stuart-Clitsome
Carolina enters tonight's game after shutting out Toronto 3-0 Tuesday.
Cam Ward will start his sixth consecutive game in goal.
Justin Faulk (three assists), Jussi Jokinen (one goal and three assists) and Bryan Allen (two assists) are on two-game point streaks.
Captain Eric Staal has four goals and four assists in his last six games.
Hurricanes Projected Lines:
Tlusty-Staal-LaRose
Skinner-Jokinen-Ruutu
Bowman-Sutter-Dwyer
Joslin-Brent-Stewart
Allen-Gleason
Harrison-Faulk
Pitkanen-McBain
Winnipeg leads the season series against Carolina with a 3-2 record, outscoring the Hurricanes 16-12. Evander Kane (three goals and two assists) and Antropov lead the Jets with five points in those games. Jokinen, Jeff Skinner and Staal each have two goals and two assists.
The Jets power play is 4/18 against Carolina which translates to 22%.
Following tonight's game, the Jets fly to Tampa to play the Lightning Saturday night at 6pm ct on TSN 1290.