The Winnipeg Jets look to rebound against the Detroit Red Wings

For the first time this season, the Winnipeg Jets will try to jump back into the win column.

Their eight-game winning streak to open the season ended Monday at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4.

“Now it’s just another opportunity to start again and kind of get going here. Obviously we didn’t like how we played last game and (there’s) kind of a fresh slate now and excited about the opportunity in Detroit and getting ready to work,” Jets forward Mason Appleton said.

As Appleton said, the Jets stop in Detroit to face the Red Wings as part of a short two-game road trip.

He noted that Winnipeg got away with their game against Toronto and to win tonight they need to strengthen their defense and their ability to control the puck.

“I think clearing them out in front of our net and really controlling the play in our own end will help us create offense. And then I think controlling the puck through the neutral zone and not turning the puck over and taking, what they give us – whether it’s the rush game or whether we have to put pucks behind them and then go to battle and win runs. So we have to take what the game gives us and of course also impose our will in the game and believe it will be one way or the other, but there are two things we have to clear up tonight.”

The lineup for Winnipeg looks to be the same as it has been all season. Head coach Scott Arniel said the team has done a lot of good things to start the year, so a loss won’t require an upheaval through the ranks.

He mentioned that he is confident in this team’s ability to handle adversity and rebound from a loss.

“We have good leadership in there and they know they weren’t good and we just have to make sure we get back to playing the way we play. That’s our mindset when we don’t have the puck and that is to compete, we’re the ones getting our noses in there and winning more one-on-one games,” Arniel said.

When it comes to their opponent on the other end of the ice Wednesday, Arniel said they are a good transition team and the Jets need to rush back to eliminate any chance.

“Their second wave though, the young defense is coming and we’ve got to make sure that we’re rushing back, that we’re protecting the guts of the ice, especially on that entry…I think we’re going to take (Detroit) ) out of the game. You can’t allow them to grow their game.”

This game also has the potential to be a milestone night for Kyle Connor.

The Jets star forward, who was born in Michigan, is just one point shy of 500 for his career and has a chance to reach that mark in his home state.

“You never take anything for granted in this league. It’s tough every single day; it’s the best league in the world. So to get that performance, it’s pretty cool. Obviously there are bigger goals in mind, but It’s a cool milestone,” Connor said.

Through nine games this season, Connor has eight goals and 14 points. While his coach knows his offense will always be there, it’s other aspects of his game that have really impressed him.

“His ability to work to get the puck back, the way he tracks, the way he takes a lot of pride in playing without it. It leads to offense for them and allows them to play with (the puck) a little bit more. He is a guy that when he doesn’t have it, he goes and gets it,” Arniel said.

Puck drop between the Jets and Red Wings from Little Caesars Arena is at 18.30