Winnipeg's problems start in the crease. The Jets sent Hellebuyck to New Jersey on October 23 after a long contract standoff and got back Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, Alexander Command, the injured Nick Bjugstad and a pair of draft picks. Stuart Skinner has carried most of the load since. Against Carolina he got chased early in the 2nd period of a 7-0 loss, the night Pyotr Kochetkov posted another shutout. Gino Hard reports Skinner was also pulled in an earlier game in this skid after allowing 5 goals on 21 shots, with Daws making his Jets debut in relief.
The 5-game slide is only part of it. Inside The Rink's preview of the Carolina game noted the Jets hadn't won since October 13, with their only points over that stretch coming from overtime losses. The offense is the other problem. Winnipeg has scored 1 goal or fewer in 3 of its last 5, then got blanked in Raleigh. Josh Morrissey's wrist injury has also taken their best puck-moving defenseman out of the lineup, and that's hurt the breakout as much as anything.
Montreal hasn't needed its stars to light it up during the streak. The 5-4 win over Pittsburgh came with 7 goals in the first 23 minutes and none from Cole Caufield or Alex Newhook. Anderson scored twice, including the winner. Montreal won that one while getting outshot, so it hasn't all been clean. Still, all 5 wins came in regulation, and the defense allowed 1 goal to Winnipeg and none to St. Louis.
The goaltending on both ends is the main thing to watch. Sam Montembeault was listed day-to-day by TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie, and Montreal has won this whole run without him. Winnipeg hasn't said who starts, and after the Carolina loss Skinner's leash looks short. If the Jets can keep this to a 2-1 game like the last one, they have a shot. If Montreal scores early again, Tuesday probably goes the way the last 2 weeks have.
