Winnipeg Jets vs Ottawa Senators Preview: Jets go for the Sweep Tonight

The Winnipeg Jets are finally back on home ice after returning from their first road trip of the new season and are looking to sweep the Ottawa Senators in their three-game mini-series.

Puck drop for tonight is scheduled, a little bit later than usual, at 9:00 p.m. Central Time at Bell MTS Place, in what is the Jets’ first home game since their home-opening win on January 14.

So far in this series between the Jets and Sens, the Jets stormed back in the first game down by 3-1 in the second period to win 4-3 in overtime. In the second game, the Jets had their most dominant performance of the season beating Ottawa 4-1.

The Winnipeg Jets look to start their seven-game homestand with a win against the Ottawa Senators

Tonight marks the start of seven straight home games for the Jets and the first of back-to-back games. Tomorrow the Jets will be taking on the Edmonton Oilers at 8:00 p.m. CST.

Odds

The Action Network lists the Jets as the favorites in tonight’s contest.

This should come as no surprise to anyone that the Jets are favorites tonight, especially after their performance on Thursday. Expect tonight to be a physical game as the Sens look to shut down the Jets’ speed.

Where you can Find the Game

TV: CBC, SN, NHL Network

Radio: 680 CJOB

Projected Lineups

There will be a couple of lineup changes for the Winnipeg Jets in tonight’s game. The first big news is that Nate Thompson will be out of the lineup today.

Mitchell Clinton (@MitchellClinton on Twitter) reported that Thompson is out for tonight’s clash and Kristian Vesalinen is in the lineup. This will be Vesalinen’s first appearance of the season and he will feature on a line with Harkins and Lewis.

Next, Patrik Laine is still projected to be out of the lineup for the fourth straight game as Paul Maurice said yesterday:

"“I don’t have him (Laine) as a player tomorrow.” (Jets TV)"

Also, Dylan DeMelo will return to the lineup after not traveling with the Jets to Ontario. It’s projected that DeMelo will replace Logan Stanley on a pair with Nathan Beaulieu, while Ville Heinola will stay in the lineup.

Finally, Connor Hellebuyck is projected to get the start in goal after stopping 28 of 29 shots faced on Thursday.

The Jets are projected to lineup like this:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Copp-Stastny-Ehlers
Perreault-Lowry-Appleton
Vesalinen-Harkins-Lewis

Morrissey-Heinola
Forbort-Pionk
Beaulieu-DeMelo

Hellebuyck (Brossoit)

For the first time in this young season, the Senators will be away from home. Tonight’s game against the Jets is the start of a seven-game road trip for Ottawa after playing their first four games at home.

If yesterday’s practice lines were any indication of how the Senators are going to lineup today, then the Senators will be making two changes to Thursday’s lineup.

Tim Stüetzle looks set to return after missing the past two games due to injury and will most likely replace Alex Galchenyuk.

Also twenty-five-year-old defenseman, Artem Zub is projected to make his NHL debut tonight on a pair with Thomas Chabot. Zub played has played his whole career in Russia, including the past five seasons in the KHL.

Matt Murray is projected to start in net as the Senators look to break their three-game losing streak.

The Senators are expected to lineup like this:

Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Paul-Stepan-Dadonov
Stüetzle-Tierney-(C)Brown
Paquette-White-Watson

Chabot-Zub
Reilly-Zaitsev
Coburn-(J)Brown

Murray (Hogberg)

Around the Scotia North Division

There is only one other game in the North tonight, as the Canadiens take on the Canucks in Vancouver. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. CST.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Jets sweep the Senators tonight? Leave your comments below!

*All Stats Provided by the NHL*