Winnipeg Jets vs Maple Leafs Preview: Jets Look to Bounce Back
The Winnipeg Jets face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in game two of a two-game series between these sides tonight at Bell MTS Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. central time.
Wednesday night did not go so well for the Jets in the opening game of this series. A slow start for Winnipeg proved costly as Toronto scored the first three goals of the game.
The Jets were unable to mount a comeback as they lost 3-1. You can read our three talking points of the game here.
Related Story. 3 Talking Points as Jets Lose to Leafs 3-1. light
The Winnipeg Jets look to split the series against the Leafs tonight before a five-day rest
After tonight, the Jets will be off till next Thursday when they travel to Montreal and begin a five-game road trip. The Jets were supposed to play on Sunday and Tuesday at home against the Vancouver Canucks, but those games have been postponed due to COVID-19 protocol.
A regulation win for the Jets tonight will put them within one point of the North Division-leading, Maple Leafs.
Odds
The Action network lists the Jets as the underdogs in tonight’s matchup.
It is no surprise the Jets are the underdogs for tonight’s clash considering the result of Wednesday’s game. Winnipeg has played extremely well after losing their prior game, so expect a great effort from the Jets this evening.
Where you can Find the Game
TV: TSN3, TSN4
Radio: 680 CJOB
Livestream: TSN.ca, TSN app
Projected Lineups
. 22-13-2. . Winnipeg Jets. 2. team. 107
The big question for the Jets coming into tonight’s clash is whether Blake Wheeler will be available to play tonight. The Jets’ captain suffered an injury in the first period of Wednesday’s game and did not return for the rest of the game.
Fortunately for the Jets, Blake Wheeler was on the ice this morning for the team’s morning skate. This is an extremely positive sign for Winnipeg and Wheeler, but Paul Maurice indicated that Wheeler will be checked on before the game and his status is still up in the air for tonight.
Maurice on Wheeler: "He was good in the morning skate, he felt good. We'll leave it for tonight to make sure he's feeling the same way."
— Mitchell Clinton (@MitchellClinton) April 2, 2021
Other than Wheeler, Winnipeg is projected to keep the same lineup that had on two nights ago. Connor Helleybuck is projected to get the start in goal.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers
Stastny-Dubois-Wheeler*
Copp-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
DeMelo-Stanley
Hellebuyck (Brossoit)
*- Game time decision
116. . 23-10-3. . Toronto Maple Leafs. 1. team
It will be a case of more of the same for the Leafs tonight. They are expected to keep the same exact lineup that got the win in game one of this series.
Jack Campbell is expected to start for the second game in a row. The Jets will be looking to give Campbell his first loss of the season, as the goaltender has an undefeated 7-0-0 record with a 1.41 goals against average and a .948 save percentage this season.
The Maple Leafs are expected to lineup like this:
Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Galchenyuk-Tavares-Nylander
Thornton-Kerfoot-Spezza
Mikheyev-Engvall-Simmonds
Reilly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian
Campbell (Hutchinson)
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Winnipeg Jets win tonight? Leave your comments below!
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*All Stats Provided by the NHL*