The (3-4-1) Winnipeg Jets look to end a three-game losing streak as they host the (3-5) Florida Panthers at MTS Centre.
Ondrej Pavelec, who allowed five goals on 33 shots last week against the Panthers, will start in goal for the Jets. Pavelec's goals against average rose to 3.55 in the last three games, while his save percentage has dropped to .888.
Head coach Claude Noel tells TSN Radio 1290 that he is shuffling his lines in hopes of generating more offence. Alexander Burmistrov gets promoted to the top six and will centre Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little on the second line. "Burmi brings some speed and some skill, and see how he does. I'm sure he's excited and wants to have success and it will be the responsibility of the whole line to create some chemistry. He's a dependable player, we know he can play offensively and it's time to give him the opportunity".
Toby Enstrom, who leads all NHL defencemen in scoring, is on a two-game goal scoring streak and six-game point streak (two goals, eight assists).
Paul Postma (one goal, three assists) and Andrew Ladd (one goal, two assists) are on two-game point streaks.
The Jets penalty kill has dropped to 30th in the NHL at 59 per cent.
Projected Jets Lines:
Kane-Jokinen-Wheeler
Ladd-Burmistrov-Little
Ponikarovsky-Antropov-Wellwood
Wright-Slater-Thorburn
Enstrom-Hainsey
Stuart-Redmond
Clitsome-Postma
After riding a five-game losing streak into last week's game against Winnipeg, Florida has won back-to-back games.
Peter Mueller is on a four-game goal scoring streak.
Tomas Kopecky has four points (one goal, three assists) in his last two games.
Brian Campbell has scored in back-to-back games.
Kris Versteeg leads the Panthers with nine goals and nine assists against Winnipeg in 14 games during his career.
Panthers Projected Lines:
Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
Kovalev-Goc-Kopecky
Huberdeau-Shore-Mueller
Matthias-Smithson-Parros
Kuba-Campbell
Kulikov-Weaver
Ellerby-Strachan
Head coach Kevin Dineen would not confirm his starting goaltender, however Scott Clemmenson took the pre-game skate in the visitors end of MTS Centre and was the first one off the ice.
