On Monday it was announced that Wheeler has once again been named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week. After collecting the honour on November 12th, the 32-year-old has found his name amongst the league’s best for another week.
Wheeler paced the NHL with five goals and eight points in three league games this past week. He began with an assist against Minnesota in Winnipeg’s 3-2 loss on Tuesday. Later, he picked up a goal and two assists in a come-from-behind victory over Central Division rival Nashville at home Friday. The 11-year NHL veteran then capped off the week with a four-goal performance on the road in Columbus, as the Jets beat up on the Blue Jackets 5-2.
Through 65 games in 2018-19, Wheeler has 17 goals and 80, including 27 power play points and two shorthanded goals. Linemates Patrik Laine (November 26th) and Mark Scheifele (October 29th, December 3rd and December 17th) as well as Jack Roslovic (February 4th) make up the seven instances that Jets have been awarded the weekly honour.
In only registering five goals before Christmas (36 games), Wheeler has stepped up his goal-scoring production in the second half of the season. Since December 31st, the Winnipeg captain has 12 goals in just 27 games, only going pointless in eight of those matchups.
Winnipeg resumes play Tuesday evening, as the Jets will look to continue moving up the standings with their red-hot play as of late. The Tampa Bay Lightning host Winnipeg at 6:30 PM central from Amalie Arena, as the Jets look to build upon their 5-4 overtime victory against the Bolts at home in mid-December. Winnipeg is currently on a two-game regulation winning streak. Tuesday’s game can be viewed live on TSN3 at 6:30 PM.
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