The Winnipeg Jets face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight with puck drop at 6:00 p.m. central time at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto for the final game of a three-game series.
The series has lived up to expectations with both teams winning one game each by identical 4-3 scores. The Leafs won the game on Thursday thanks to an overtime goal from Auston Matthews. Kieran Hurley wrote an excellent recap of the game pointing out that once again, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding.
It is comforting as a Jets fan to know that the team will steal some games due to goaltending. However, it is worrisome when the Jets continue to be outshot and give up more high danger chances than their opponents.
The Winnipeg Jets need a victory tonight to remain in second place as they are now tied with the Edmonton Oilers.
Nikolaj Ehlers had a three-point game on Thursday night, and his line with Pierre Luc Dubois and Kyle Connor is starting to look more dangerous. The Jets are going to need a big night from the top line as well if they hope to leave Toronto with a second victory in three games.
Odds
The Action network lists the Jets as the underdogs in tonight’s matchup.
The first place Leafs are favored to close out the three-game home series with a victory at home against the Jets. The Jets’ last appearance on Hockey Night in Canada was a disastrous 7-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens. Let’s hope that the Jets step up in a high profile televised game Saturday night.
Where you can Find the Game
TV: CBC, SNO
Radio: 680 CJOB
Livestream: TSN.ca, TSN app
Projected Lineups
Connor Hellebuyck, who has been kryptonite to Maple Leafs goal scorers, will start for the third straight game. He has been outstanding, but I am hoping for a less busy evening on Saturday against the Leafs. Giving up that many dangerous scoring opportunities to a team with the talent of the Leafs is not a sustainable plan for victory.
Defenseman Logan Stanley stepped into the Jets’ bottom defense pair on Thursday and looked very solid considering he had not played a game in over a month. Nikolaj Ehlers was excellent again on Thursday night and leads the team with 13 goals this season.
The Jets’ second line of Ehlers-Dubois-Connor continues to look better each game but is not quite working yet. With three players of that talent level, they really should be more of a 1(a)-type line for the Jets, consistently creating scoring opportunities.
I expect that will come with time as the three players get more accustomed to playing together, and Dubois continues to shake off the rust of his 14-day trade quarantine. Saturday night would be a great time to break out a huge game for the trio.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Stastny-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Dubois-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-DeMelo
Hellebuyck (Brossoit)
Throughout two games the Leafs have demonstrated that they can generate shots on goal and high danger scoring opportunities. The Leafs’ big offensive weapons have been tamed thanks to Vezina trophy winning Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Last game he stopped William Nylander on two breakaway opportunities, leading Nylander to break his stick at the Leafs bench. Nylander looked fantastic all game and was the most dangerous offensive threat on the ice.
Defensively the Leafs have looked fine limiting the Jets shots on goal and high danger scoring opportunities. It is unclear how much of that is due to their defense, and how much due to the Jets not exerting the level of pressure they are capable of given the offensive firepower of their top two lines.
Thursday’s win was the first for the Leafs in four games so I expect the Leafs to come out again with playoff intensity.
The Leafs are expected to lineup like this:
Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Mikeyev-Engvall-Hyman
Vesey-Boyd-Spezza
Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian
Anderson (Hutchinson)
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Jets win tonight’s game? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*