After steamrolling the Wild on Thursday night in St. Paul for their fourth straight win, the Winnipeg Jets are suddenly looking like a team that’s rediscovered its identity.
What a difference a week makes. This group, which not long ago looked like it was teetering, has tightened up defensively, gotten timely scoring, and is riding a wave of momentum that’s hard to ignore.
Friday was a well-earned day off for the Jets, who now turn their focus to a Saturday night tilt against a Toronto Maple Leafs squad that’s been heating up in its own right-even if the standings don’t quite reflect it yet.
Toronto is coming off a tough OT loss in Vegas, a game that marked Mitch Marner’s first matchup against his former team. And while the Leafs are currently sitting just outside the playoff cutline, they’ve quietly gone 6-1-3 in their last 10. That’s the kind of stretch that suggests they’re not far off from making a serious push.
Jets Morning Skate Notes
No lineup changes for Winnipeg at morning skate, per TSN’s Danielle Bain. That’s no surprise-when you’re rolling like this, you don’t tinker unless you have to. Continuity has been key during this win streak, and the Jets will look to keep that rhythm going.
Projected Jets Lines and D Pairs:
- Connor - Scheifele - Iafallo
- Perfetti - Toews - Vilardi
- Niederreiter - Lowry - Namestnikov
- Koepke - Barron - Pearson
On the blue line:
- Morrissey - DeMelo
- Samberg - Salomonsson
- Stanley - Schenn
Hellebuyck is expected to get the start in goal.
This lineup has been clicking. The top line continues to drive play, and the second unit-featuring Toews and Vilardi-has added a new layer of offensive depth. Meanwhile, the bottom six has brought energy and defensive reliability, with Lowry’s line in particular doing a lot of the dirty work that doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet but wins games.
Projected Maple Leafs Lines and D Pairs:
- McMann - Matthews - Domi
- Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander (though Nylander is doubtful after getting banged up in Vegas)
- Knies - Roy - Robertson
- Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan
Defense pairs:
- Rielly - Carlo
- McCabe - Stecher
- OEL - Myers
In goal, it’ll be either Joseph Woll or Dennis Hildeby.
The big question for Toronto is Nylander’s status. He left the game against the Golden Knights with an injury and is considered doubtful.
That’s a potential game-changer. When he’s in the lineup, he’s a difference-maker-one of the most dynamic skaters in the league who can tilt the ice in a hurry.
Without him, Toronto will need others to step up, particularly against a Jets team playing with confidence and structure.
What to Watch
This one has the makings of a tight, playoff-style game. The Jets are slight favorites at home, and they’ve earned that edge with their recent form and the way they’ve been locking things down defensively. But the Leafs are desperate for points, and desperate teams can be dangerous-especially when they’re already playing well.
The matchup in net could be pivotal. Hellebuyck has been sharp during this win streak, giving Winnipeg the kind of elite goaltending that can erase mistakes and frustrate opponents. If he’s on his game again, the Leafs may need to get creative to solve him.
On the other side, whether it’s Woll or Hildeby, Toronto will need strong goaltending to keep pace with a Jets offense that’s been opportunistic and increasingly balanced.
This game could come down to execution in the details-special teams, puck management, and winning the battles in the dirty areas. With both teams fighting for positioning and riding strong recent stretches, expect a fast, physical game with a playoff-like feel.
Stay tuned for updates from the coaches’ media availability later today.