Winnipeg Jets vs Ottawa Senators: Players to Watch, TV, and More
The Winnipeg Jets look to win their first away game of the 2021 season against a new look Ottawa Senators. Here’s all you need to know about tonight’s game.
For the first time this season, the Winnipeg Jets are playing the second game of a back-to-back. After the Jets faced the Maple Leafs last night, they are headed to Ottawa and face off against the Senators tonight.
Last night the Jets lost their first game of the season against Toronto 3-1. The Jets were down 2-0 in the second and failed to mount a comeback. Special teams made a huge difference in this game as the Jets went zero for four on the powerplay, while Toronto scored on their lone man advantage.
Even though the Jets lost a tough one just a night ago, they have a great chance today to pick up their first two road points in Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central Time at the Canadian Tire Centre.
The last time out for the Senators, they lost to Toronto 3-2 in a game where they were outshot 40-19.
Betting Odds
The Action Network lists the Jets as the favorites for tonight’s contest against the Senators.
Tonight is definitely an interesting matchup. The Jets will still be without DeMelo and Poolman and could be without Patrik Laine for his second straight game, while the Senators look healthy and have a much-improved roster compared to their team of last season.
Expect this to be another tough game for the Jets that is expected to stay close till the end.
Where to Watch the Game
TV: TSN3, TSN5, TVAS
Radio: 680 CJOB
Livestream: TSN.ca, TSN app, NHL.tv
Players to Watch
Kyle Connor- Winnipeg Jets
So far at the start of the Jets’ new campaign, Kyle Connor has been one of their stars of the show. In the Jets’ two prior games, Connor is off to a hot start. He currently has two goals and 2 assists.
In yesterday’s game against the Leafs, Connor scored the Jets’ lone goal and it was a beautiful play. Derek Forbort made a great pass to Connor in the slot and he got the puck to the net right away to put it in the net.
Tonight the Jets will be looking for more of the same from Connor. His speed and shot could make the difference against an inexperienced top-six of the Senators.
Look for Connor to take control of the game and be a force to be reckoned with in the offensive zone. His line could be one of the main reasons the Jets pick up two points against Ottawa.
Tim Stützle- Ottawa Senators
The Senators had the third overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and they decided to pick Tim Stützle. At the time of the draft, the now nineteen-year-old, played his whole hockey career in Germany.
After representing Germany at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, Stützle joined up with the Senators for the start of the new season. During the WJC, Stützle has five goals and five assists in five games.
Stützle has played in both of Ottawa’s games so far and played extremely well in his last game. On Saturday night, Stützle scored his first NHL goal on an absolutely beautiful one-timer.
Stüzle will look to build on his last performance and will look to take advantage of a somewhat inexperienced Jets defensive group.
Projected Lineups
. 1-1-0. . Winnipeg Jets. 5. team. 107
Anytime there are back-to-back games it is expected that there will be one or two changes from the night before. This looks to be the case, especially since the Jets lost last night.
Patrik Laine is expected to day-to-day and his status is still up in the air for tonight’s contest. He did not play last night and there is a possibility he could be making his return to the lineup tonight.
Kristian Vesalainen may come into the lineup to replace Mathieu Perreault on the Jets fourth line. If Laine is good to go, that may be the only change the Jets will make upfront.
Paul Maurice seemed extremely happy with Logan Stanley’s performance last night and it looks like he will stay in the lineup. It is expected that the one lineup change Winnipeg will make on defense is Ville Heinola will replace Sami Niku.
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The other change the Jets are expected to make is the net. Laurent Brossoit is expected to get his first start tonight after Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves on 37 shots in yesterday’s game.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Stastny-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Vesalainen-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Heinola
Forbort-Pionk
Beaulieu-Stanley
Brossoit (Hellebuyck)
. Ottawa Senators. 4. team. 91. . 1-1-0
The Senators made a big splash this offseason and have a vastly improved team. Their top-six consists of some newcomers, including Derek Stepan, and Evgenii Dadonov, and some top prospects including Josh Dorris, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stützle.
Ottawa is definitely much stronger on defense and much tougher to play against. They have a great first pairing of Chabot and Zaitsev.
It is projected that Matt Murray will get the start in goal tonight. Murray has started both of the Sens games so far and carries a 3.02 goals against average, and a .905 save percentage.
The Senators are projected to lineup like this:
Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Stuetzle-Stepan-Dadonov
Paul-Tierney-(C)Brown
Paquette-White-Watson
Chabot-Zaitsev
Reilly-Gudbranson
Coburn-(J)Brown
Murray (Hogberg)
Around the Scotia North Division
Tonight’s game between the Jets and Senators is the only game in the North division tonight, as all the other teams in the North have off.
The Oilers will be facing off against Toronto and Montreal will be playing Vancouver tomorrow night.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: What do you think the final score will be for tonight’s game? Leave your comments below!
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