The Winnipeg Jets are back at Bell MTS Place for game two of this second round best-of-seven series against the Montreal Canadiens. Opening puck drop for tonight’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. central time.
Game one did not go the Jets way. After a week and a half layoff, the Jets’ slow start proved to be the difference as the Jets lost the first game of this series by a 5-3 scoreline.
You can read Dan St. Joseph‘s insightful recap of the game by clicking the link here or the “Related Story” link right below this paragraph.
Wednesday’s game one was also the first time during this edition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs that the Winnipeg Jets have lost a game.
The Winnipeg Jets look to win game two against the Montreal Canadiens and level the series
The Jets are definitely facing adversity as they try to even the series before the teams head to the Bell Centre for the next two games and are projected to miss a few of the stalwarts for tonight’s clash.
History shows us how important tonight’s game two is. According to Hockey Reference, teams that have won the first two games of a series on the road have gone on to win the series 80.8% of the time.
Odds
The Jets are listed as the favorites for the second straight game. This may come as a surprise to some considering Montreal has won their last four games and Winnipeg may be without three of top players tonight.
Where you can Find the Game
TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, USA
Radio: 680 CJOB
Projected Lineups
The Winnipeg Jets’ offensive lines are a bit unpredictable for tonight’s crucial game two. Paul Stastny is projected to miss his second straight game with an injury and Mark Scheifele is suspended.
Dominic Toninato is also projected to get scratched after having a team-low, five minutes and thirty-three seconds of ice time two nights ago.
It is projected that the Jets will reshuffle their lines in an effort to keep Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler together, while also retaining Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nikolaj Ehlers on a line.
We could see Paul Maurice and the Jets coaching staff dress Kristian Vesalinen and Jansen Harkins and move them on the “third line.” Adam Lowry will then move to a line with Connor and Wheeler and Andrew Copp will then play on the wing alongside Dubois and Ehlers.
Dylan DeMelo is not projected to play tonight after suffering an injury in the opening shift of the first game. Jordie Benn is projected to replace DeMelo and play alongside Logan Stanley.
Connor Hellebuyck will get the start tonight as he looks to get back into the win column after dropping his first game of the postseason on Wednesday.
The Jets are projected to lineup like this:
Connor-Lowry-Wheeler
Copp-Dubois-Ehlers
Vesalinen-Harkins-Appleton
Perreault-Thompson-Lewis
Morrissey-Poolman
Forbort-Pionk
Stanley-Benn
Hellebuyck (Brossoit)
The Canadiens will be forced to make one change after Jake Evans suffered a concussion due to being the victim of a reckless hit by Mark Scheifele.
Tomas Tatar, who missed game one, may make his return to the lineup tonight. If he is available to dress it is expected he will replace Evans on the Canadiens’ first line.
Carey Price will again be in net for the Canadiens tonight. Price played well in game one, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced.
The Canadiens are expected to lineup like this:
Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Toffoli-Suzuki-Caufield
Byron-Kotkaniemi-Anderson
Perry-Staal-Armia
Chiarot-Weber
Edmundson-Petry
Kulak-Gustafsson
Price (Allen)
After tonight, this series will move to Montreal for games three and four. Those games will be completed on back-to-back days on Sunday and Monday.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Will the Winnipeg Jets even up the series tonight? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*