The Winnipeg Jets will be dealing with a depleted defensive corps for the next couple of months, but lately, they've overcome those absences behind one of the league's most prolific scoring attacks.
Mathieu Perreault is among those leading the charge for the Jets, and he'll try to match his longest career point streak in Saturday night's opener of a home-and-home set against the slumping Minnesota Wild.
Winnipeg (18-10-7) lost defensemen Jacob Trouba and Mark Stuart until at least February in the final two weeks before the Christmas break. They joined Zach Bogosian - expected to remain out until at least next month - and Tobias Enstrom on the shelf.
The Jets acquired Jay Harrison from Carolina on Dec. 18 to make up for those losses, and winger Dustin Byfuglien was moved to the blue line.
Byfuglien assisted on Perreault's second goal in Tuesday's 5-1 rout of Chicago, which pushed Winnipeg to 3-0-1 in its last four games and 8-1-4 in its past 13.
Perreault has four of his eight goals in the last three contests. He has five goals and four assists during his eight-game point streak, the longest by a Jets player this season.
Perreault, who has three goals and one assist in his last four games against Minnesota, had a nine-game run March 14-31 while with Anaheim.
"(He's) real confident with the puck now, getting it off his stick quick and no second-guessing. We need that," coach Paul Maurice said. "He's been great. He's such a good guy in the room. He works so hard. I think that's the big part. For not a big man, he just fights for every puck and then when he scores, the guys appreciate that even more."
With Perreault's contributions, Winnipeg has averaged 3.31 goals in its last 13 games - the second-most in the league since Nov. 24. Bryan Little has seven of his team-best 13 goals in that stretch but has two goals and two assists in his last eight games.
The Jets will face a Minnesota team tied with Arizona for most goals allowed per game since Nov. 24 at 3.67.
The Wild (16-13-3) have fared even worse in a 2-4-2 stretch by giving up 33 goals, including a combined 11 in the past two of their four consecutive defeats. Minnesota matched its longest skid this season with a 5-2 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
"We're supposed to be a band of brothers that goes out, night in and night out, and lays it on the line for each other," forward Matt Cooke said. "We found that last year. Just because we had it last year doesn't mean that it's here this year. We have to go out and earn the trust in each other."
Minnesota blew an early three-goal lead to Winnipeg on Nov. 16 but Marco Scandella provided an overtime goal for a 4-3 victory, its fifth in the last six meetings.
The Wild have also won three in a row at home over the Jets, but are seeking to avoid their first four-game home losing streak in two seasons. Their longest overall skid last season was a six-gamer Dec. 19-31.
Zach Parise, who scored twice in last month's win, has 11 goals and 10 assists in his past 18 games versus the Jets franchise.
Byfuglien, a Minnesota native, has two goals and nine assists in his last 10 matchups with the Wild and three goals and eight assists in his last seven visits to Minnesota.
The Jets and Wild will play again Monday.
