Winnipeg Jets vs Canadiens Preview: Jets Start their Five-Game Road Trip

The Winnipeg Jets are in Montreal tonight as they face off against the Canadiens and kick off a two-game series between the sides.

The opening faceoff for tonight’s game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. central time. These teams will conclude this pair of games on Saturday night.

This game is also the beginning of a five-game road trip for the Winnipeg Jets. Yesterday, we outlined how important this trip is for the Jets and you can read that article by clicking here or the link below:

The Winnipeg Jets are looking to win their second game in a row against the Montreal Canadiens who played less than 24 hours ago

Winnipeg comes into tonight after hanging on to beat the Ottawa Senators on Monday night. The Jets were up 4-1 at the start of the third period but ultimately they hung on to win the game 4-3 at Bell MTS Place.

On the other hand, Montreal is coming into this game after playing last night in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. These sides traded chances, but the Leafs came out on top winning 3-2 in Regulation.

Odds

The Action network lists the Jets as the underdogs in tonight’s matchup.

Throughout the course of this season, the Jets have usually found themselves as the underdogs when they have matched up against the Canadiens regardless of the standings.

Winnipeg should be well rested for this one, while Montreal had a hard-fought road game last night. Expect the Jets to play fast from the start, as they look to get off to an early lead against a team that may be slow out of the gate due to their game and the travel late yesterday evening.

Where you can Find the Game

TV: TSN3, TSN3, RDS

Radio: 680 CJOB

Livestream: TSN.ca, TSN app

Projected Lineups

For the first time in weeks, the Winnipeg Jets will be forced to make a lineup change after Blake Wheeler is ruled out due to an injury.

Wheeler is out indefinitely with what is most likely a concussion, but the Jets medical staff has yet to diagnosis him.

Since Wheeler is out, Jansen Harkins will come into the lineup. Most likely Harkins will slot onto the Jets’ third line and Andrew Copp will move up to Wheeler’s spot on the second line.

Other than that, Winnipeg is not projected to make any other changes.  Connor Hellebuyck is projected to get the start in goal after picking up his 18th win of the season on Monday night.

The Jets are projected to lineup like this:

Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers
Stastny-Dubois-Copp
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis

Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-DeMelo

Hellebuyck (Brossoit)

Montreal is having their fair share of injury problems right now. Brendan Gallagher has been ruled out for the immediate future with a fractured thumb.

Also, Carey Price did not dress last night as he was ruled out with a lower-body injury. Although Price is considered a game-time decision tonight, Canadien’s coach Dominque Ducharme said:

"The chances of Carey playing against Winnipeg, it’s hard to tell right now because we need to see how he reacts after a couple days. But yeah, there’s a chance that Jake will play both games. (NHL)"

With that being said, Jake Allen is projected to start tonight, as the Canadiens look to get Price back to full fitness.

Other than that, the Canadiens lineup should remain the same as last night.

The Canadiens are expected to lineup like this:

Perry-Suzuki-Anderson
Drouin-Staal-Toffoli
Tatar-Danault-Kotkaniemi
Byron-Evans-Lehkonen

Edmundson-Weber
Kulak-Petry
Romanov-Mete

Allen (Primeau)

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think the Winnipeg Jets should make any lineup changes for tonight’s game? Leave your comments below!

*All Stats Provided by the NHL*