Penguins-Jets preview

Some news, notes and numbers in advance of the Penguins’ game against Winnipeg at MTS Centre tonight:

*** Defenseman Paul Martin, who has missed the past 18 games because of a broken hand, will return to the Penguins’ lineup this evening. Coach Dan Bylsma said that, in addition to skating a regular shift, Martin will be used on the power play and the penalty-kill.

*** Marc-Andre Fleury will start in goal for the Penguins.

*** The Penguins need one point – or to have Philadelphia fail to earn a possible point – to wrap up first place in the Metropolitan Division. It would be the Penguins’ eighth division title and just the second time in team history they won division championships in consecutive years.

*** Conversely, the Penguins will be locked into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference if Boston beats Toronto and the Penguins lose to the Jets in any fashion, or if the Bruins get one point from the Maple Leafs and Winnipeg beats the Penguins in regulation.

*** Penguins forward Jussi Jokinen, who moved into the middle on the second line because of injuries, has gone 28-14 on faceoffs during the past three games.

*** The Penguins are 27-0-2 when Sidney Crosby gets two or more points. He has 15 goals and 30 assists in 26 career games against the Winnipeg franchise.

*** Defenseman Brooks Orpik is scheduled to appear in his 700th career game – all with the Penguins – tonight. He will join Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Jean Pronovost and Rick Kehoe as the only players in franchise history to dress for that many games as a member of the Penguins.

*** Seven of Winnipeg’s past 17 games have been decided in overtime or a shootout.

*** The Jets are coming off a five-game road trip, their second-longest of the season. They are 1-3 in their first game back from a trip of three or more games.

MTS Centre this season is 17-15-6.

*** Winnipeg has at least one power-play goal in four of its past five games.

*** Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is two points shy of 300 for his career.

*** The Jets have had 44 games decided by one goal this season, including six of their past seven. They are 20-14-10 in one-goal games.

*** Winnipeg captain Andrew Ladd has seven shootout goals this season, tying him for second-most in the NHL.

*** Both teams have allowed six shorthanded goals this season and are 4-5-1 in their past 10 games.

*** The Jets have two players, Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler, with 60 or more points. The Penguins, Chicago and San Jose are the only clubs that have three players with 60 or more.

*** Little has a seven-game points streak, which matches the longest of his career and is the longest by a Jet in 2013-14.

*** Winnipeg winger Devin Setoguchi’s next point will be the 250th of his career, while D Toby Enstrom needs three to hit that mark.

*** The Jets are 15-10-5 since Paul Maurice replace Claude Noel as coach Jan. 12.

*** Winnipeg defenseman Jacob Trouba, who could develop into a Norris Trophy contender someday, leads all NHL rookies in average ice time with 22 minutes, 33 seconds per game.

*** Byfuglien has scored or set up 26 of Winnipeg’s 39 power-play goals this season.

*** Jets left winger Eric Tangradi, a former Penguin, has two goals in his past seven games. He has three goals and three assists in 50 games this season.

*** Defenseman Mark Stuart leads the Jets in hits [218] and blocked shots [151].

*** Winnipeg has faced a two-man disadvantage nine times this season, but has not been scored on in any of them.

*** The Penguins have won 17 of their past 20 meetings against the Winnipeg franchise.

*** Winnipeg does not have a hat trick since Dec. 18, 2010, when Eric Boulton got three goals while the franchise was based in Atlanta. That’s the longest current streak without a hat trick in the league.

*** Penguins prospect Bryan Rust, who signed an entry-level contract earlier this week, has signed an amateur tryout contract with their farm team in Wilkes-Barre.