The Winnipeg Jets are likely happy to be home after a disappointing 6 game road trip that ended with a 2-4-0 record due to too many defensive coverage errors. However, if you want to look at things more positively, then I’ll tell you that the True Northers have won 2 of their last 3 contests.

Regardless of your point of view, I think all the fans will be happy that our hockey team is pretty much fully healthy for the first time in the 2025-26 NHL campaign. Yes, extra defenseman Haydn Fleury is still unavailable, but all the projected starters will be available to head coach Scott Arniel when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Canada Life Centre. Center Morgan Barron will return to the 4th line after missing the last 6 games, giving that unit a big boost. So finally we should get to see what this year’s version of the Jets can be over the next few matches. Hopefully there will be a massive reduction in the coverage mistakes Winnipeg’s players have been making to date.

The CLC will feature a pair of clubs tied with 8 other franchises for the 16th best record in the NHL, with the Winnipeg Jets entering with a 11-7-0 record and the Columbus Blue Jackets coming in with a 10-7-2 stat line. The similarities between the two teams continues in the goal scoring category, with the Jackets pocketing 1 more marker than the Jets so far (both middle of pack in NHL). The clubs do separate somewhat when it comes to goals against, with Winnipeg being in a tie for 5th least with 50 GAs and Columbus allowing 60 GAs to sit in a tie for 17th.

Tonight’s opposition appears to have been playing well lately, winning 3 of their last 4 contests that included some quality adversaries like the Seattle Kraken and Montreal Canadiens, who both have the 9th best records in the league. The Jackets are staying in games lately, with their last 6 games ending with a 1 goal difference, as well as 8 of their last 9.

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

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Looking at the stats, Winnipeg and Columbus have been receiving similar levels of play in a lot of the categories, including goaltending. The Jets do have a bit of an edge in the special teams’ numbers at this point, plus will have the advantage of the Blue Jackets playing the second half of a back-to-back.

A pair of Russians have been leading the way for Columbus in the early part of 2025-26, with Kirill Marchenko (22 pts) and Dmitri Voronkov (16) at the top of their charts. The Ohioans have also been receiving strong play from defenseman Zach Werenski (15), off-season acquisition Charlie Coyle (13), and young superstar Adam Fantilli (13).

The True Northers top scorers this season include the expected names like Mark Scheifele (24 pts), Kyle Connor (22), Josh Morrissey (19), and Gabriel Vilardi (14). Perhaps the 5th highest point getter is a bit of a surprise, as Nino Niederreiter’s 11 pts puts him on a pace for the 50 pt mark, a plateau the Swiss winger hasn’t reached since the 2018-19 season.

Time to check out how PuckPedia is predicting the clubs to line up tonight (7 PM Central):

WINNIPEG JETS LINE UP

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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS LINE UP

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Thankfully the end of 9 pm Central starts for the Jets is over for a bit and am guessing we will all enjoy the final horn blowing well before midnight. It also might be nice for some fans to see the return of center Sean Monahan to the Peg, though others will feel less excitement about that since he did opt to spurn our team’s advances when he reached free agency. I’ll admit that at the time, I felt spending that kind of money to bring him back would have been a mistake….yet with the massive increases in the salary cap ceiling over the past couple of seasons, his $5.5M/yr salary isn’t looking bad at all.

**one late change has seen the Jets opt to go with backup Eric Comrie in net tonight, so PuckPedia’s line up above won’t be entirely accurate.**

Go Winnipeg!!!!!

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POST-GAME INFO

Scoring Summary: (courtesy of ESPN)

FINAL SCORE:  

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Game Stats: (courtesy of MoneyPuck)

Expected Goals (all): 

Expected Goals (5on5):  

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BOJA’S Post-Game Thoughts:

FYI – I will be linking a video recap of the Jets-Blue Jackets game to the title photo once it is available. Hopefully I will also have time to add my thoughts shortly after the game…so check back tomorrow to review the stats & share your thoughts on the Jets-Jackets clash.