Al Montoya, in his second consecutive start since replacing Ondrej Pavelec Dec. 27 against Minnesota, continued to make the case for his graduating to being the Winnipeg Jets starting net-minder after posting a 27-save shutout versus the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday's New Year's Eve game at the MTS Centre. It is Montoya's second shut-out of the season.
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As this game starts the second half of the National Hockey League's 2013-2014 season, the Jets sit sixth in the seven-team Central division with 19-18-5; good enough for 43 points in 42 games played. This puts them nine points out of the third-place playoff spot in the Central. They trail the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche for that spot by four and two points respectively.
The Jets also trail the Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes for the two wild card spots in the Western Conference by 10 points and six points respectively.
