The Winnipeg Jets are heating up at just the right time, and Saturday night’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Canada Life Centre is shaping up to be more than just another game on the calendar - it’s a Hockey Day in Canada clash that always brings the energy, the rivalry, and, yes, a whole lot of blue and white in the stands.
This will be the only visit the Leafs make to Manitoba this season, but don’t expect the home-ice advantage to be overwhelming. These matchups tend to split the crowd, with Leafs Nation showing up in force no matter the venue. Still, the Jets have momentum on their side, riding a four-game win streak and looking to make it five after enduring a brutal 11-game winless stretch that dated back to mid-December.
The last time these two teams met? A wild one.
Toronto came out on top in a 6-5 barnburner to open 2026, thanks in large part to a hat trick from captain Auston Matthews. That game had everything - lead changes, high-octane offense, and the kind of late-game drama that makes these Canadian showdowns so compelling.
The Jets haven’t forgotten.
But this isn’t the same Winnipeg team that left Ontario with a loss. Since then, they’ve found their stride, tightening up defensively and getting timely scoring across the board. Thursday’s dominant win over the Minnesota Wild was a statement - and they’ll be rolling out the same lineup that got the job done in that one.
There is, however, a key absence: defenseman Colin Miller is out after undergoing a knee procedure following an injury suffered against the Devils. That’s a hit to Winnipeg’s blue line depth, but the Jets will lean on their remaining defensive corps to hold the line against a Leafs team that can strike fast and often.
Here’s how Winnipeg is expected to line up on Saturday night:
Forwards:
- Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Alex Iafallo
- Cole Perfetti - Jonathan Toews - Gabriel Vilardi
- Nino Niederreiter - Adam Lowry - Vladislav Namestnikov
- Cole Koepke - Morgan Barron - Tanner Pearson
Defense:
- Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
- Dylan Samberg - Elias Salomonsson
- Logan Stanley - Luke Schenn
Goaltender:
- Connor Hellebuyck
Scratches:
- Declan Phillips, Gustav Nyquist, Dmitry Zhilkin
Injured:
- Colin Miller, Cale Fleury
With Hellebuyck between the pipes and the top line clicking, the Jets are in a good spot to keep their streak alive - but they’ll need to bring their best against a Leafs squad that already showed what it can do when the stakes are high. Expect intensity, physicality, and some fireworks - just another chapter in one of Canada’s most entertaining hockey rivalries.