Panthers v. Jets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Florida Panthers (2-5-3)

@ Winnipeg Jets (8-4-1)

Starting Goalies:

James Reimer (FLA): Unconfirmed

Connor Hellebuyck (WPG): Unconfirmed

Current odds:

Florida Panthers: (+120)

Winnipeg Jets: (-140)

• Patrik Laine could not have scripted a better return to his native Finland, and the Winnipeg Jets hope his hat trick Thursday marks a turnaround for their young star forward entering Friday’s finale of the NHL Global Series against the Florida Panthers in Helsinki. Laine, who came into the series pointless in his past five games and had scored just three goals on the season, snapped out of his slump with two power-play goals and an empty-net tally as the Jets won 4-2.

• The struggle continues for the Panthers, who battled back from one-goal deficits twice before mustering only six shots in the final period and finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Finland native and Florida captain Aleksander Barkov recorded an assist on Keith Yandle’s power-play goal in the second period, but the Panthers were limited to two goals for the third time in the past four games. The Panthers are last in the Eastern Conference with seven points through 10 games.

• Florida outshot the Jets 38-36, the fifth consecutive contest in which the Panthers have recorded more shots than the opposition. Forward Mike Hoffman extended his point streak to eight games with an assist, but his four-game goal scoring streak ended. Goaltender James Reimer made 32 saves, stopping 20-of-21 shots at even strength, and if he does not start Friday, the nod likely will go to former Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson.

• Laine’s empty-net goal marked his first of the season that did not come on the power play, and Mathieu Perreault opened the scoring with his second goal. Wheeler, who tied for the league-league in assists last season, now has 12 assists in 13 games, and the Jets have converted on 31.7 percent of their power-play opportunities (ranking among the top three in the NHL). Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck recorded 36 saves, including several big stops in the opening two periods.

• Yandle played in his 725th consecutive game Thursday, the longest active streak in the NHL, and tied a franchise record for most points (10) by a defenseman through a season’s first 10 games.

• The Jets finished 2-for-6 on the power play, setting a franchise record by scoring a power-play goal for the ninth consecutive game.

• Winnipeg, which came into the series with the most penalty minutes in the NHL (170), finished with 12 on Thursday.