MINNESOTA WILD NOTES:
SERIES NOTES
WINNIPEG JETS
All-Time Wild Record: 26-17-5 (16-6-3 at Xcel Energy
Center, 10-11-2 at Winnipeg)
2022-23: Minnesota won the series opening game, 6-1, at Xcel Energy Center (11/23)…LW Matt Boldy (1-2=3) led Minnesota with three points…D Calen Addison (1-1=2), D Matt Dumba (0-2=2), C Joel Eriksson Ek (0-2=2), LW Marcus Foligno (2-0=2) and LW Kirill Kaprizov (1-1=2) each posted two points…G Filip Gustavsson stopped 28 of 29 shot faced for the Wild…LW Kyle Connor scored Winnipeg’s lone goal, assisted by C Michael Eyssimont and D Josh Morrissey…G Connor Hellebuck stopped 33 of 39 shots faced for the Jets.
WILD LEADERS: Foligno (9-9=18 in 28 games) and RW Mats Zuccarello (10-8=18 in 22 games) lead the Wild with 18 points against Winnipeg…D Alex Goligoski owns 16 points (2-14=16) in 40 contests…D Jared Spurgeon owns 14 assists in 36 games…Dumba has 12 points (4-8=12) in 27 contests.
WILD GOALIES: G Marc-Andre Fleury is 22-10-0 with a 2.59 GAA, a .909 SV% and one shutout in 32 career games (31 starts) against the Jets…G Filip Gustavsson is 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA and a .954 SV% in three starts.
JETS LEADERS: RW Blake Wheeler leads Winnipeg with 40 points (14-26=40) in 42 games vs. Minnesota…C Mark Scheifele has 30 points (12-18=30) in 34 contests…RW Sam Gagner owns 20 points (4-16=20) in 46 matches…Connor owns 16 points (7-10=17) in 18 games.
JETS GOALIES: Hellebuyck is 9-8-2 with a 2.83 GAA, a .912 SV% and three shutouts in 22 games (21 starts) against the Wild…G David Rittich is 3-0-1 with a 2.89 GAA and a .917 SV% in four starts.
FAST FACTS: Minnesota has earned points in 24 of its last 38 games against Winnipeg (21-14-3)…The Wild is 10-2-0 in the last 12 contests at Xcel Energy Center…Minnesota’s sweep of the Jets in 2018-19 (5-0-0) marked the third time in franchise history Minnesota swept a season series of more than four games: 5-0-0 vs. Chicago (2015-16) and 6-0-0 vs. Edmonton (2010-11)…The Wild fell, 4-1, in its first-ever postseason meeting against the Jets in the 2018 First Round.
INJURIES
Dec. 16, 2022 – Dec. 26, 2022
12/26/22 Recalled F Adam Beckman and F Sammy Walker from
Iowa
12/23/22 Reassigned F Steven Fogarty to Iowa
12/20/22 Recalled F Steven Fogarty from Iowa
12/17/22 Reassigned F Sammy Walker to Iowa
ON THE POWER PLAY
• The Wild have converted 32.1 percent (18 of 56) of power-play opportunities at home this season, second-best in the NHL.
• The Wild have registered a PPG in 12 of its last 15 games. Since Nov. 23, Minnesota ranks 10th in the NHL with a 26.9 power-play percentage (14 of 52).
• Minnesota recorded a power-play goal in a season-high six consecutive games from Nov. 23 – Dec. 4, going eight-for-19 (42.1 pct.) during that span. The streak tied for the fifth-longest in franchise history.
PENALTY KILLERS
• Since Nov. 8, Minnesota is third in the NHL with a 82.5 penalty-kill percentage (66 for 60).
• Minnesota is eighth in the NHL with a 82.1 penalty-kill percentage (46 of 56) on the road this season.
TOTAL TEAM EFFORT
IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
• The Wild hold an active seven-game home win streak, the NHL’s longest active streak and tied for second-longest in the NHL this season.
• Since Oct. 25, the Wild is tied for fourth in the NHL with 18 wins and tied for seventh with 37 points.
• Since Oct. 25, Minnesota is giving up 2.39 goals per game (tied for third in NHL), allowing 27.9 shots per game (fourth in the NHL) and recording a .914 save percentage (sixth in the NHL).
SHORT (HANDED) KINGS
• Minnesota is tied for first in the NHL with six shorthanded goals this season.
• The total is the team’s highest in franchise history through a
season’s first 31 games.
KIRILL THE THRILL
• Entering games on December 27, Kirill Kaprizov ranks tied for eighth in the NHL with 43 points (19-24=43).
• Kaprizov’s nine power-play goals are tied for sixth-most in the NHL this season.
• Kaprizov’s 18 power-play points rank tied for 11th in the NHL this season.
• Kaprizov’s 19 goals rank tied for 11th in the NHL this season.
• Kaprizov ranks tied for fifth in the NHL in scoring since Nov. 23 with 23 points (9-14=23) in 15 games and tied for fourth in the NHL in scoring since Nov. 9 with 30 points (11-19=30) in 21 games.
• Kaprizov reached the 40-point mark in 31 games this season. Per NHL Stats, he required the fewest games by a Wild player to reach the 40-point mark in a single season. He reached 40 points in one fewer game than he did in 2021-22 (32 GP).
• Playing in his 167th game of his NHL career vs. OTT (Dec. 18), Kaprizov scored three points (1-2=3) to reach 201 points (93-108=201) for his career. He became the 23rd player in NHL history to collect 200 points in 167 games or less.
• Per NHL Stats, only three active players have reached 200 career points in fewer games than Kirill Kaprizov (167 GP): Sidney Crosby (142 GP), Alex Ovechkin (165 GP) and Evgeni Malkin (166 GP).
• Kaprizov is the first player in Wild history to record his first 200 career points with the franchise in fewer than 200 games.
• Per NHL Stats, Kaprizov reached 100 career assists in the 158th game of his career vs. Edmonton (Dec. 1). Among players to make their NHL debut with the Wild, none have reached the 100-assist milestone in fewer contests (previously Mikko Koivu: 230 GP).
• Since the start of the 2021 season, Kaprizov ranks third in the NHL with 151 points and sixth with 66 goals.
STONE-COLD KIRILL-ER
• Kirill Kaprizov’s game-winning goal in overtime vs. VAN (Oct. 20) marked his third overtime goal since the start of the 2021-22 season, tied for fifth-most in the NHL during that span (Connor McDavid, five; Steven Stamkos, five; Alex DeBrincat, four; Shea Theodore, four).
• Kaprizov currently stands at nine career overtime points in a Wild sweater, tied with Kevin Fiala for fourth-most in franchise history
THE GUS BUS IS ROLLING
• Filip Gustavsson recorded a six-game win streak from Nov. 19 to Dec. 18, the longest of his career and tied for the third-longest streak in the NHL this season.
• Since Nov. 19, Gustavsson leads the NHL with a 1.84 goals-allowed average (GAA) and ranks fourth with a save percentage (SV%) of .930 (minimum seven games played).
• Gustavsson is 7-2-1 with a GAA of 2.07 and a .927 SV% in his last 10 games.
• Since Nov. 9, Gustavsson ranks fourth in GAA (2.07) and seventh in SV% (.927) (minimum eight games played).
WINNIPEG JETS NOTES:
Scene Setter
After the three-day Christmas break, the Winnipeg Jets host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night in the first of two home games this week. Winnipeg also entertains the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Jets entered the break after a pair of road loss in a back-to-back to Boston and Washington last week.
Last Game
Washington Capitals 4
Winnipeg Jets 1
Jets Scorers: Stenlund (2)
Capitals Scorers: Ovechkin (21, 22), Milano (5), Dowd (8)
Jets Goaltender: David Rittich (23 sv, 3 ga)
Capitals Goaltender: Charlie Lindgren (25 sv, 1 ga)
Jets PP: 0-for-2
Jets PK: 4-for-4
Recap: The Jets fell 4-1 to the Washington Capitals on Friday night. Kevin Stenlund scored his second goal of the season for Winnipeg’s only tally. Dylan DeMelo and Mark Scheifele led Winnipeg with four shots each, while Adam Lowry had a team best five hits. David Rittich made 23 saves in his third start in the past four games.
Above .600
The Jets are ninth in the NHL with a .632 points percentage, which also ranks second in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference… Winnipeg’s best points percentage in franchise history was in 2017-18 when the team finished at .695… The franchise has finished a season with a points percentage better than .600 four times.
Consecutive Losses
The Jets have lost consecutive games for just the third time this season, but second time in December… Winnipeg hasn’t lost three games in a row since a four-game losing streak from Apr. 15-21/22… The Jets are one of 10 teams in the NHL this season to not have lost three consecutive
games this season.
Busy Time of Year
Winnipeg plays 16 games in 30 days from Dec. 2-31… The stretch includes three back-to-backs… The Jets only consecutive days off in December were from Dec. 24-26 for the Christmas break… Winnipeg’s 13 games so far in December is tied with the Calgary Flames for the most in the NHL… The Jets only played eight games in December last season due to COVID-related postponements, going 4-3-1.
NHL and AHL Success
The Jets and AHL’s Manitoba Moose have combined for a .650 points percentage, which is seventh among NHL teams and their affiliates… The Moose are sixth in the AHL with a .673 points percentage… The Jets and Moose are one of five NHL/AHL affiliate pairings that are each in the top 10 for points percentage in their respective league.
Central Rivals
The Jets are 11-2-0 against their Central Division counterparts this season, with both losses coming on the road… Winnipeg has won six consecutive games against Central Division teams… This is the Jets only game against a Central Division team in a span of 14 games… Winnipeg went 14-6-6 against their Central Division rivals last season and have a winning record against the Central in each of the past five seasons in which the Jets have been in the Central Division… Josh Morrissey (3G, 15A) leads the Jets in scoring against their divisional foes this season with 18 points in 13 games, while Kyle Connor has 16 points (5G, 11A) in 13 games… Four Jets players are averaging a point per game or better against the Central Division this season.
Home Comforts
The Jets are 12-5-0 at Canada Life Centre to start the season… Winnipeg has won 16 of their past 21 home games dating back to last season…Kyle Connor (10G, 14A) leads the team with 24 points in 17 home games… Mark Scheifele’s 12 goals at home is halfway to the career high 24 goals he had at home during the 2018-19 season… Connor Hellebuyck has been stellar on home ice this season, going 10-4-0 with a 1.78 goals-against average, .942 save percentage and three shutouts… Winnipeg is 241-154-36 all-time at Canada Life Centre and have posted a .500 record or better at home in six consecutive seasons.
Road Record
The Jets are 9-7-1 on the road this season… Winnipeg has lost three consecutive road games for the first time this season after matching a franchise record five-game road winning streak… Defenceman Josh Morrissey (1G, 19A) leads the Jets in scoring on the road with 20 points, but his franchise-tying 10-game road point streak ended in Washington… Pierre-Luc Dubois has a team leading eight goals.
Up to 27
The Jets have used 27 skaters this season, which is tied for fifth in the NHL and seven behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for most in the NHL…It matches the 27 players Winnipeg used during the 2020-21 season, which is the fewest in franchise history… The Jets are averaging 30 skaters per season since relocation… The franchise record for most skaters used in a season is 39 during the 2001-02 season when the team was in Atlanta… Conversely, the Jets have had just two goaltenders see game action in each of the past four seasons.
Top 5 PK
Winnipeg is fifth in the NHL with a penalty kill successful 81.9% of the time… The Jets have played 156:03 on the penalty kill this season, which is sixth fewest in the NHL… The last time the Jets had a penalty kill better than 82% was in 2013-14 when they finished the season at 83.2%… The franchise record for penalty kill percentage in a season is 85.2%, which occurred in Atlanta during the 2003-04 season.
Mr. Norrissey
Defenceman Josh Morrissey leads the Jets in scoring with 39 points (6G, 33A) in 34 games, which is a career high for points… He has also established a new career high with 33 assists… He’s halfway to the career best 12 goals he had in 79 games last season… Morrissey had 13 assists during his franchise record 11-game assist streak, which ended on Friday… He has a point in 28 of his 34 games this season and hasn’t gone consecutive games without a point… Morrissey is second in the NHL among defencemen in scoring, while his 33 assists rank first among NHL defencemen and fourth overall… Morrissey is on pace for 80 assists and 94 points this season… Morrissey is on pace to become the first defenceman to lead the team in scoring in franchise history… The franchise record for points by a defenceman in a season is 56, which Dustin Byfuglien did in 2013-14… Byfuglien (4 times), Toby Enstrom (twice), and Jacob Trouba (once) are the only defencemen in franchise history to post 50 points or more in a season.
December Leaders
Pierre-Luc Dubois (5G, 12A) and Kyle Connor (7G, 10A) led the Jets and are tied for the fifth in the NHL in scoring in December with 17 points in 13 games… Dubois’ 12 assists are also tied for seventh in the league in December… Neal Pionk has blocked 30 shots in December, which is fifth in the NHL.
Helle
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is tied for second in the NHL with a .928 save percentage this season… His 16 wins is third among the league’s netminders and he’s one of four NHL goalies with three shutouts this season… Hellebuyck owns a 2.36 goals-against average this season, tied for fifth in the NHL, while the Jets are averaging 3.48 goals per game when he’s in net… He has stopped more than 90% of the shots he’s faced in nine of his past 11 starts.
KEVIN!
Kevin Stenlund has three points (2G, 1A) in seven games since being recalled from the Manitoba Moose… His two goals have come in the past three games… Stenlund had career high 10 points in each of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Shooting Streak s
Kyle Connor has a shot in all 34 games this season… It’s the 15 th time in franchise history a player has had a shot in 34 games to start a season, including three times by Connor… He leads the Jets with 118 shots this season… Mark Scheifele has a shot in 15 consecutive games, while Dylan DeMelo has a shot in 13 consecutive games, which is the longest of his career.
20 X 8
Mark Scheifele is the 10th player to reach 20 goals this season… It’s the eighth consecutive season he’s reached 20 goals, which ties Ilya Kovalchuk for most 20 goals in franchise history with eight… Scheifele has a pair of 30-goal seasons, but has never hit the 40-goal mark… He’s on pace for a career best 49 goals this season.
Extra Time
The Jets are 7-1 in overtime this season… Winnipeg has won five consecutive OT games, which is one game shy of the franchise record in a season (Oct. 22/18-Jan. 13/19)… Winnipeg’s eight OT games are tied for the second most in the NHL this season and the Jets are the only team with seven wins in overtime… Winnipeg is one of five teams to not play in a shootout this season.. Five of Winnipeg’s seven OT winners have come in the first two minutes of the extra session… Mark Scheifele holds the franchise record with 12 OT winning goals… The seven wins is two better than the five overtime wins Winnipeg had last season in 12 games decided in OT… During the past three seasons, Winnipeg is 18-9 in games decided in overtime… The franchise record for OT wins is 10, set in 2010-11.
Zeros
The Jets have registered three shutouts this season, which is tied for second in the NHL… Winnipeg’s first two shutouts were by 4-0 scores (Oct. 24 vs. STL and Nov. 5 vs. CHI), while the Nov. 29 5-0 shutout against Colorado gives the Jets all three shutout wins by at least four goals… The Jets had five shutouts last season, which is two shy of the franchise record.
Taking the Challenge
Head Coach Rick Bowness has made three challenges this season, resulting in two calls being overturned… Both challenges resulted in goals being overturned to no goals – one for offside and one for a stoppage… The Jets are 2-0-0 in games this season when they have made a successful coach’s challenge… Opposing coaches have made two challenges in games this season against the Jets, going 1-for-2.
Jets vs. MIN Notes
Season Series
Tuesday’s game is the second of four meetings between the Jets and Wild this season… The Jets lost 6-1 to the Wild in St. Paul on Nov. 23… The Jets host the Wild for a second time this season on Mar. 8, while Winnipeg makes another trip to St. Paul on Apr. 11.
Recent History
The Jets are 4-2-2 in their past seven games against Minnesota, including winning the past two of the past three meetings.
In Winnipeg
Winnipeg has won three consecutive games against the Wild at Canada Life Centre and six of the past eight games…The Jets are a perfect five-for-five on the penalty in the past three games against Minnesota in Winnipeg.
Player Notes
Blake Wheeler is averaging nearly a point per game against the Wild in his career with 40 points (14G, 26A) in 42 games…Five of Wheeler’s goals are game-winning goals… Mark Scheifele has 30 points (12G, 18A) in 34 career games against Minnesota… The only two players on Winnipeg’s roster with shootout attempts against Minnesota are Sam Gagner (2-for-5) and Blake Wheeler (1-for-3)
Jets vs. MIN Past 10 Games
Date Opp Res G GA S PPO PPG PIM SA PPOA PPGA PIMA
02/26/2019 Min L 2 3 32 4 1 4 40 2 2 8
04/02/2019 @Min L 1 5 33 2 0 4 28 2 0 4
10/10/2019 Min W 5 2 32 2 0 6 40 2 0 6
12/21/2019 @Min W 6 0 31 4 1 13 31 3 0 15
01/04/2020 @Min OTL 2 3 21 5 2 12 44 5 1 10
10/19/2021 @Min OTL 5 6 30 6 2 17 44 5 3 19
11/26/2021 @Min L 1 7 31 3 1 10 38 4 0 8
02/08/2022 Min W 2 0 29 4 1 17 27 1 0 23
02/16/2022 Min W 6 3 31 2 1 4 36 2 0 4
11/23/2022 @Min L 1 6 29 2 0 19 39 5 2 13
