Dawson Mercer, Jets bid to pick up steam vs. Lightning

Dawson Mercer will try to build momentum with the Winnipeg Jets when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday evening. Mercer, acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 23 in a trade that sent goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey, has begun to “find his footing” weeks after the move. Winnipeg enters coming off a historic stretch: Tuesday they erased a 4-0 deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in overtime, highlighted by a late rally of four goals in the final 2:39 and a goal by Dylan Samberg 3:30 into extra time. Thursday, the Jets beat Vancouver 6-2, with Mercer scoring his first goal and adding an assist. Tampa Bay countered with two wins in close succession, including a 4-3 overtime victory over Minnesota after Nikita Kucherov scored the game-winning power-play goal 3:23 into OT. The Lightning have won three straight and earned at least one point in six straight games, though their power play started slowly this season.