GAMEDAY: Devils at Jets

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets became the second team this season to clinch a playoff spot after their 3-2 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Winnipeg will shift their focus to the New Jersey when the Devils visit Canada Life Centre for a Friday night tilt.

The Jets played a solid game from start to finish against the Capitals who Winnipeg trails by one point in the chase for the Presidents’ Trophy.

“It was a good game. You expected that to happen. Just an aggressive mindset and the points system, we don’t look at that,” said Alex Iafallo.

“Obviously, you want to be at the top of the league. Playing a team like that, we want to go in with the right mindset, just to win that game.”

Alex Iafallo played well in his first game replacing Gabe Vilardi on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, playing 17:28 and will get another shot tonight against the Devils.

“It’s a big change. Just trying to have the right changes, coming off the ice and stuff like that,” said Iafallo.

“Offensively, an extra five or 10 seconds goes a long way in the game. Just keep playing my game and changing at the right time."

Make sure to tune into the pregame show with Sara Orlesky and Jamie Thomas on YouTube, X and Facebook.

Kyle Connor had a life changing experience as he became a father for the first time as his wife Ally gave birth to a daughter.

“I mean, just different in the fact of, obviously what happened over the last 24-48 hours. And it's a constant learning process,” said Connor.

“And there's going to be times where it does, and obviously she’s a big part of our lives being now, this is life changing for the better. And we couldn't be more excited about it.”

There is one change to the Jets lineup tonight as Rasmus Kupari will come out and David Gustafsson will come in. Morgan Barron moves to centre on the fourth line and Gustafsson will play the left side.

“(Kupari) has had a little bit of a setback. We’ll just kind of monitor him day-to-day. But Gus is Gus. You throw him in and whether it’s centre or left wing, penalty kill, faceoffs,” said Arniel.

“Again, another guy like we mentioned (Namestnikov, who is versatile). We have guys that have been able to do this, maybe not play for a while but jump back in and not miss a beat. Gus is a really good teammate that way.”

The Jets have done a great job of moving on from what happened in the previous game and that has served them well. It’s important that they stay consistent down the stretch considering that Dallas is six back with a game in hand and Colorado, Minnesota and St. Louis all keep winning.

"I lived in the Metro for a while there, it was the same thing. The Rangers, Islanders, Washington, Pittsburgh. It was the same kind of thing, it was like you had to get through the battle of your own division to get anywhere,” said head coach Scott Arniel.

“When I came here three years ago, I learned it very quickly. It's an awful lot alike here. The last few years, you watch these teams in our division — when they go play out east or have tough games against tough opposition that aren't in our division, and they come out on top. It's an extremely tough division to be in, and that's why it's our number two goal at the start of the year. One was to eliminate eight teams. The next one was winning the Central. It's an extremely tough division."

The Jets have captured points in seven straight contests against the Devils at home and have gone 11-2-2 in the past 15 matchups in Winnipeg.