GAMEDAY: Jets at Penguins | Winnipeg Jets

PITTSBURGH – Last weekend, the Winnipeg Jets (28-29-11) confronted a pair of afternoon video games in opposition to Central Division rivals and got here out on prime in each of them.

This weekend, they is probably not dealing with divisional foes, however they’re searching for the very same consequence.

It all begins this afternoon in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-16), a group the Jets beat again in November by a rating of 5-2. To sweep the season sequence, and even their file on the three-game highway journey, the Jets know they’re going to should play as a linked group of 5 in all three zones.

That’s one of many areas that ahead Cole Koepke felt the Jets had hassle with in Thursday’s 6-1 loss in Boston.

“We were a little bit inconsistent about what we were doing and working within a structure of five at times,” he mentioned at Friday’s optionally available apply. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but the standings are so close and we have to flush it. We have two games back-to-back here.”

The skill to park a irritating result’s crucial at this level of the season. It might be straightforward to look at a stat like Natural Stat Trick’s high-danger possibilities at five-on-five from that recreation in Boston, the place the Jets held a 13-8 benefit, and surprise what might have been in the event that they capitalized on some possibilities early.

Over these analyzing possibilities does not assist going into the Pittsburgh recreation, nevertheless. Instead, Koepke is specializing in how these possibilities had been generated.

“We were ending plays quickly in our own zone, we were quick to support one another. We were defending as a group of five and from there transitioning quickly,” he mentioned. “Ending plays early, you have so much more energy to go on offense. That’s where those looks came from, we just need to do that for a full game.”

Perhaps these possibilities will probably be accessible in opposition to Pittsburgh if the Jets do the identical issues. Two of the objectives the Penguins gave up in a wild 6-5 time beyond regulation loss to Carolina on Thursday had been rush performs at even power – along with a shorthanded breakaway.

Even although the Penguins misplaced that recreation, it wasn’t all unhealthy information. They did get some extent to assist them of their battle with Columbus within the Metropolitan Division and captain Sidney Crosby returned after lacking 11 video games with the damage he sustained in opposition to Czechia at the 2026 Olympic Games.

The 38-year-old Crosby had a aim and an help in his return.

“He starts everything for their team. It seems to go through him and revolve around him. He’s obviously a world class player,” mentioned Koepke. “They’re in the heat of it as well, they’re having a good season. We have to make sure we’re ready. Come out with a game plan and it’s probably going to be a playoff like game here on out from our side. We’re playing teams that are also in the mix, so we expect that both ways.”

With the Jets holding an optionally available apply, line-up data will not be accessible till warm-up. One of the members within the optionally available skate was defenseman Neal Pionk, who has missed the final 23 video games with a number of accidents. He initially left the line-up in mid-January with a lower-body damage and was trying set to return following the Olympic break earlier than an undisclosed damage within the second to final apply sidelined him once more.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel mentioned Pionk – who wore a daily jersey in Thursday’s morning skate and the optionally available apply – could possibly be an possibility as early as this weekend.

Puck drop is ready for midday CT.