Captain Adam Lowry could provide the streaking Winnipeg Jets a boost when they open a six-game, 12-day road trip in Los Angeles against the Kings on Tuesday night.
Lowry, who missed the first 12 games recovering from offseason hip surgery, appears set to make his season debut as the Jets look to extend their winning streak to four games.
The 32-year-old skated on the third line with Nino Niederreiter and Tanner Pearson during practice Monday.
“I think it is the reads,” Lowry said of the adjustment to game action. “Generally, coming out of the summer, the first exhibition game or the first game, it is the speed of the game, guys come up on you quicker, you can’t admire any passes, or there is a chance you are going to get hit right away and then just playing off my linemates.”
Niederreiter is looking forward to having the team’s captain back for the extended road trip.
“We’ve played a lot together the last few years, so it’s definitely great having him out there,” Niederreiter said.
“I mean, even just for a presence with the team, I think is a big, big key for us, obviously, our captain, our leader, and it’s great having him back.”
Kyle Connor scored twice Saturday as the Jets upended the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Gabriel Vilardi added a goal and an assist, Brad Lambert scored his first NHL goal and Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for the Jets, who are 5-3-0 on home ice and 4-0-0 on the road.
Mark Scheifele added a pair of assists, becoming the first NHL player to reach the 20-point mark this season (nine goals, 11 assists).
Connor Hellebuyck, Tuesday’s expected starter, is 6-3-0 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in nine games.
Tuesday is the second of the teams’ three meetings. Scheifele scored two consecutive goals as Winnipeg erased a 2-1 deficit to edge Los Angeles 3-2 on Oct. 11.
The Kings enter Tuesday’s contest in search of their first home ice win (0-3-2) following a 4-1 loss to the visiting New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Andrei Kuzmenko scored the lone goal and Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves as Los Angeles saw its seven-game points streak (4-0-3) halted.
“I don’t think we’re scoring many goals, obviously,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “There’s not enough dirty goals, if you will. We’re not very good on special teams and (that) usually translates into losses.”
Adrian Kempe saw his seven-game points streak (three goals, seven assists) end against the Devils. The 29-year-old paces the Kings with 10 assists and 15 points through 13 games.
Kuemper, expected to get the nod in goal Tuesday, is 3-3-3 with a 2.85 GAA and an .891 save percentage in nine games.
The Kings and Jets wrap up the season series Jan. 9 in Winnipeg.
