Winnipeg Jets vs Calgary Flames: Players to Watch, TV and More

Projected Lineups

Yesterday was a huge day around the Winnipeg Jets organization. They announced their opening night roster and, shortly thereafter, they signed Trevor Lewis to a one-year deal that carried an AAV of $750,000.

The Jets made some key acquisitions this offseason when they acquired veteran players: Paul Stastny, Derek Forbort, and Nate Thompson. The Jets acquired Stastny in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and they signed Forbort and Thompson who were both free agents.

Heading into this season, the Jets switched up their top-six line combinations. Ehlers has made the jump to the Jets’ “top line” with Scheifele and Wheeler, while Connor has traded places with Ehlers on the second line.

Nikolaj Ehlers could miss tonight’s game due to the new NHL COVID-19 Protocols. Ehlers was forced to miss practice yesterday due to these protocols, but the Jets said “it is in the range of possibilities” that he plays this evening.

Connor is projected to be on a strong second line with Stastny at center and Laine on the right-wing. The Jets’ third line will be a familiar combination featuring Copp, Lowry, and Appleton.

Jansen Harkins will most likely be out of the lineup tonight after recovering from an injury that he picked up in training camp. This would then make way for Mathieu Perreault to play on the fourth line alongside Thompson and Lewis, who will both be making their Jets’ debut.

If Ehlers cannot play tonight, Kristian Vesalinen will also come into the lineup and slot on the third line. Andrew Copp will subsequently take Ehlers’ spot on the first line.

The Jets will feature some familiar defensive combinations compared to last year. Morrissey and Poolman, and Beaulieu and DeMelo will stay together, while former Flames player Derek Forbort is projected to play on a pair with Neal Pionk.

2020 Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck is projected to get the start tonight and Laurent Brossoit will be the Jets’ backup netminder.

The Jets are projected to lineup like this:

Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Stastny-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis

Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Beaulieu-DeMelo

Hellebuyck (Brossoit)

Just like the Jets, the Flames forward group will look awfully similar at the start of this new season. The Flames acquired Dominik Simon, this offseason, and he will feature on their top line with Gaudreau and Monahan.

Calgary also bolsters a tough second line to match up against. Tkachuk, Lindholm, and Dube play on this line. Tkachuk led the Flames in points last season and Lindholm also had a nice 2019-2020 campaign where he picked up 54 points.

The biggest change we will see on Calgary’s roster is on defense. The Flames lost two defensive stalwarts from last year to free agency. Those players are Derek Forbort, who is now a member of the Jets, and Travis Hamonic, who recently signed with the Vancouver Canucks.

To cover their losses the Flames added twenty-seven-year-old Russian defenseman, Nikia Nesterov, and they also signed Christopher Tanev. Juuso Valimaki is also set for a bigger role in 2021 and is projected to play on a pair with Nesterov.

Jacob Markstrom is projected to make his Flames debut in net tonight and David Rittich will back him up.

The Flames are projected to lineup like this:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Simon
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Dube
Leivo-Backlund-Mangiapane
Lucic-Bennett-Nordstrom

Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Tanev
Valimaki-Nesterov

Markstrom (Rittich)

Winnipeg Jets Fans: What are your score predictions for the Jets’ first game of the season? Leave your comments below!

*All Stats Provided by the NHL*