The Winnipeg Jets (12-8-0) will be entering their second game without Connor Hellebuyck after dropping the first match against the Carolina Hurricanes. Things don’t get easier for the True Northers, as their neighbours to the south are visiting Manitoba and the Minnesota Wild (11-7-4) are playing some really good hockey at this point.

The Wild have picked up wins in 4 straight against some quality opposition (ANA, VEG, CAR, & PIT), so they should offer a test to a Jets club that has also been playing fairly well. With the NHL standings as tightly contested as I’ve seen in recent history, every game will matter if either franchise wants to participate in the playoffs. At this point, Winnipeg is sitting on the outside looking in, but do have games in hand to change that situation, as seen in ESPN’s Central Division standings graphic.

Both franchises have been seen some of their star players kick off the NHL’s 2025-26 campaign well, with the Wild having forwards Kirill Kaprizov (26) and Matt Boldy (25) above the 20 point plateau and the Jets responding with Mark Scheifele (28), Kyle Connor (25), and Josh Morrissey (22).

Let’s continue our look at Winnipeg & Minnesota by checking out ESPN‘s team & goaltender comparison numbers for tonight’s late night game (yet another 9:00 pm Central start):

*****

After browsing the data in the above graphics, there are not huge differences in the numbers in most categories. With Hellebuyck on the shelf, Minnesota takes an advantage in goaltending play while Winnipeg can lay claim to better penalty killers and spending less time in the sin bin.

Time to check out how PuckPedia is predicting the clubs to line up tonight (3 PM Central):

WINNIPEG JETS LINE UP

*****

MINNESOTA WILD LINE UP

*****

With no pre-game skate due to the 3 pm Central start time, we won’t be able to confirm how the teams will be deploying their players. That being said, other than Scheifele taking a maintenance day that saw Tanner Pearson fill in on the top line, there were no changes to the Jets’ lines in yesterday’s practice. So we should expect the same players as the tightly fought game against the Canes.

My cat Lambo is very much demanding a walk around the neighbourhood, so I better give in or he may demand a trade like the Jets’ prospect he was named after. 🙂

Go Winnipeg!!!!!

*****

POST-GAME INFO

Scoring Summary: (courtesy of ESPN)

FINAL SCORE:  

*****

Game Stats: (courtesy of MoneyPuck)

Expected Goals (all): 

Expected Goals (5on5): 

*****

BOJA’S Post-Game Thoughts:

Will add the game stats/summary to the article shortly after the game ends. Hope to have time to add my post-game thoughts at the same time. So if you want to check out the numbers & read whatever thoughts popped into my head…come back later tonight or tomorrow.