This is one memory test the Winnipeg Jets won’t fail.
As in which team ended their eight-game win streak to start the season as they approached the NHL record for best start — 6-4 at home no less — their only defeat in the schedule’s first 16 games?
The answer is plain as blue and white. On Monday afternoon, payback is possible when Winnipeg faces the Leafs again, this time at Scotiabank Arena.
While both were in first place in their respective divisions as of Sunday afternoon, the Leafs had five fewer points and were tied with Florida, which had a night game against Tampa Bay. Toronto is also coming off a bad 6-3 home loss to the Islanders, looking very much like a team drained in the second half of a back-to-back.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg fended off the Central Division’s second seed, the Minnesota Wild, with a 5-0 win, taking full advantage of the Wild on its back-to-back.
Monday’s game, moved up to early afternoon as part of the Leafs promoting a ‘Next Generation’ crowd of younger fans, is the last for both clubs before the Christmas break.
“I have noticed we’ve had a tough time against Toronto the last few years,” said Jets forward Morgan Barron. “A lot of skill over there. Hopefully, we can get one more on the road and head into Christmas feeling good.”
It could be a matchup of strong American-born goalies, Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck, the current active league save-percentage leader (.927), versus Toronto’s Joseph Woll.
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