The Winnipeg Jets are limping into Montreal with more questions than answers. Sitting at 12-13-0, they’ll face a Canadiens squad that’s been more consistent at 13-8-3. Wednesday night’s matchup at the Bell Centre wraps up a grueling five-game road trip for the Jets - one that’s yielded just a single win and plenty of frustration.
Their latest stumble came in Buffalo, where Winnipeg fell 5-1 in a game that exposed some of their recurring issues: slow starts, defensive breakdowns, and a lack of sustained offensive pressure. Now, with one last chance to salvage something from this road swing, the Jets will need to bring urgency - and a bit of pride - to the ice in Montreal.
This will be Winnipeg’s only visit to Quebec this season, and they’re hoping it’s more than just a pit stop on a downward spiral. After this, the schedule doesn’t get any easier.
The Jets will head back to Canada Life Centre for a Friday night rematch with the Sabres - the same team that just handed them that lopsided loss. Then it’s a quick turnaround with a trip to Edmonton on Saturday for a late game against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
From there, Winnipeg finally gets a bit of home cooking - but not much rest. They’ll play every other day for over a week, facing a gauntlet of playoff-positioned teams: Dallas, Boston, Washington, and Ottawa.
All four are currently above the postseason cut line. The Jets?
Not so much.
In an effort to shake things up, Winnipeg is making some lineup changes ahead of Wednesday night’s tilt. The goal: inject some speed and energy into a group that’s looked heavy-legged and out of sync. Forward Cole Koepke and rookie defenseman Elias Salomonsson are back in the lineup, while veterans Colin Miller, Luke Schenn, and Gus Nyquist will sit this one out.
Another key addition: Neal Pionk returns from a brief injury absence. He’ll be paired with Salomonsson, giving the Jets a right-side duo that can move the puck and, hopefully, move the needle. The blue line has been a step slow far too often this season, and the Jets are hoping this pairing can help flip that script.
Between the pipes, Eric Comrie is getting the nod again after a rough outing in Buffalo. With Connor Hellebuyck still on the shelf, Comrie will need to bounce back quickly - and convincingly - if Winnipeg wants to stay afloat in the standings.
Here’s how the Jets are expected to line up against Montreal:
Forwards
- Connor - Scheifele - Vilardi
- Namestnikov - Toews - Perfetti
- Niederreiter - Lowry - Iafallo
- Koepke - Barron - Pearson
Defense
- Morrissey - DeMelo
- Samberg - Pionk
- Stanley - Salomonsson
Goaltender
- Comrie
Injured: Hellebuyck, Fleury
Healthy scratches: Nyquist, Miller, Schenn
There’s no sugarcoating it - this is a critical moment in the Jets’ season. They’re on the outside looking in, facing a brutal stretch of games, and searching for an identity that’s eluded them through the first quarter of the season.
Wednesday night in Montreal isn’t just another game. It’s a chance to reset the tone, stop the bleeding, and show that there’s still some fight left in this group.