Thursday night in the NHL features the Seattle Kraken steering into Winnipeg to faceoff with the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day!

DeMelo's goal with 27 seconds left was the difference in his 600th NHL game as the Jets picked up their third win in a row.

After the Mikko Rantanen trade, anything seems possible. Let's break down who the Jets might target to upgrade their forward corps.

First Period_1, Seattle, Beniers 9 (Kakko, Schwartz), 8:12. Second Period_2, Winnipeg, Scheifele 27 (Connor, Morrissey), 9:35 (pp). Advertisement Article continues below this ad Third Period_3 ...

The Winnipeg Jets have really started to cook on this season-long eight-game homestand, going 3-0-1 after a midding 0-1-1 start. They’ll try to keep the good times rolling on Thursday night as they host a Seattle Kraken team that has spent the past week in enemy territory, going 2-2-0 so far on a five-game trip that is about to come to an end.

First Period_1, Seattle, Beniers 9 (Kakko, Schwartz), 8:12. Second Period_2, Winnipeg, Scheifele 27 (Connor, Morrissey), 9:35 (pp). Third Period_3, Winnipeg, DeMelo 2 ...

First Period_1, Seattle, Beniers 9 (Kakko, Schwartz), 8:12. Penalties_Stanley, WPG (Elbowing), 5:26. Second Period_2, Winnipeg, Scheifele 27 (Connor, Morrissey), 9:35 ...

It was a bad night for Seattle to be missing a top penalty killer. Winger Brandon Tanev was ruled out due to illness. Tye Kartye, who was scratched in favor of John Hayden during the Kraken’s last game in Pittsburgh, went back in for Tanev.

The Pacific Division is fun this season. A new leader in the Pacific Division has emerged, as the Edmonton Oilers have a 32-15-3 record with 67 points.

First Period_1, Montreal, Slafkovsky 8 (Suzuki, Caufield), 11:03. 2, Winnipeg, Connor 28 (DeMelo, Vilardi), 15:36. Second Period_3, Winnipeg, Scheifele 29 (Vilardi, Morrissey), 10:44. 4, Winnipeg, Connor 29 (Gustafsson), 19:58.

Second Period_2, Winnipeg, Appleton 7, 10:17. 3, Calgary, Weegar 6 (Huberdeau, Sharangovich), 15:08 (pp). 4, Winnipeg, Vilardi 21 (Samberg, Scheifele), 19:09. Penalties_Appleton, WPG (Cross Checking), 13:21.

WINNIPEG — Even as a teenage ballet student in Seattle, Christopher Stowell knew the long history and reputation of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. And now, he’ll play a key role in shaping its future. In June, Stowell will begin his tenure as the new artistic director of the 85-year-old company.