The Winnipeg Jets are just a couple of days into their brand new season and they are on the road for a three-game swing in Ontario. Tonight is the first and only game for the Winnipeg Jets against the Leafs on this road trip. After tonight the Jets will have a two-game series in Ottawa against the Senators.
Puck drop will be just a little bit earlier than normal for Winnipeg supporters. Tonight’s game at Scotiabank arena is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/6:00 p.m. Central Time.
The Jets are coming into this game after winning their season opener against the Flames in dramatic fashion. The Jets were down 3-1 going into the second period and battled back to tie the game. Eventually, the game needed overtime, and Patrik Laine scored a beautiful game winning goal to give the Jets a 4-3 victory.
The Winnipeg Jets look to win their second game of the 2021 season against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Tonight will be Toronto’s fourth game of their campaign, and their second contest at home. The last time out, the Leafs beat the Senators 3-2 in Ottawa on Saturday night. Toronto currently carries a 2-1-0 record.
Betting Odds
The Jets are the underdogs in tonight’s matchup, courtesy of the Action network.
After making the trip to Ontario and facing off against an extremely talented team who has already played four games, it is no surprise that Winnipeg is the underdogs.
The Jets could surprise many tonight. Last year these teams split the season series and both teams won on their opponent’s ice. Winnipeg picked up the pace in the second and third periods on Thursday night and will be looking for a complete performance this evening.
Look for the Jets to impose their game from the start and shut down an offensive-minded Leafs squad, while the Leafs will look to throw everything they have at Hellebuyck.
Where to Watch Tonight’s Game
TV: TSN3, TVAS, SNO
Radio: 680 CJOB
Livestream: NHL.TV, TSN.ca, TSN app
Projected Lineups
The Jets are going to have to make some changes on defense for tonight’s game. Both Dylan DeMelo and Tucker Poolman did not travel with the Jets for this three-game Ontario road trip.
Maurice elaborated a bit on DeMelo. He said both the baby and DeMelo's wife are fine. DeMelo is staying back because during the pandemic, it takes a bit longer to get some of the support systems in place to help while he's gone.
— Mitchell Clinton (@MitchellClinton) January 17, 2021
It is projected that Sami Niku, who had a decent performance in Demelo’s spot in the Jets’ season opener, will stay in that spot. Niku played on a pair with Beaulieu on Thursday.
Logan Stanley is projected to make his NHL debut tonight in place of Poolman. The twenty-two-year old, who is six foot seven inches, played with the Manitoba Moose the past two seasons and is known for his physical play. His debut will be fun to watch, especially against some of the best forwards in the league.
The only other lineup issue the Jets may have is regarding Patrik Laine. Laine left practice early yesterday and as when this article was published, his status for tonight’s contest against Toronto is still up in the air. More news regarding Laine will become available closer to puck drop.
Other than that, there are no more expected changes for the Jets. If Laine is good to go, Winnipeg looks to keep the same 12 forwards up front and five of the six defensemen who dressed on Thursday will stay the same.
Connor Hellebuyck is projected to start for Winnipeg after making 23 saves on 26 shots faced against the Flames. Brossoit is expected to be the backup netminder over newly acquired Anton Forsberg.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Stastny-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Stanley
Forbort-Pionk
Beaulieu-Niku
Hellebuyck (Brossoit)
Toronto made a huge splash this offseason in the free agent market. The Leafs signed TJ Brodie, Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian, Jimmy Vesey, Travis Boyd, Joe Thornton, Joey Anderson, and Aaron Dell.
These players only add to an extremely talented roster that includes Austin Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly.
The Maple Leafs have no major injuries heading into tonight’s game and are not expected to make any changes to the lineup that won Saturday evening.
Jack Campbell is projected to get the start tonight. He stopped 17 of 19 shots while picking up the win on Saturday evening.
The Maple Leafs are expected to lineup like this:
Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Vesey-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman
Barabanov-Spezza-Simmonds
Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian
Campbell (Andersen)
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Jets win their first road game of the season tonight? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*