The Winnipeg Jets (12-8-0) enter their second game without Connor Hellebuyck after dropping the first game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Things don’t get any easier for the True Northers as their neighbors to the south visit Manitoba and the Minnesota Wild (11-7-4) are currently playing very good hockey.
The Wild have won against quality opposition in 4 consecutive years (ANA, VEG, AUTO, & PIT), so they should offer a test to a Jets club that has also played pretty well. With the NHL standings as contentious as I’ve seen in recent memory, every game will matter if either franchise wants to get into the playoffs. Right now, Winnipeg is on the outside looking in, but has games in hand to change that situation, as seen in ESPNs Graphical position of the Central Division.
Both franchises have seen some of their star players kick off the 2025-2026 NHL campaign well, with the Wild being the forwards Kirill Kaprizov (26) And Matt Boldy (25) above the 20-point plateau and the Jets respond with Mark Scheifele (28), Kyle Connor (25), and Josh Morrissey (22).
Let’s continue our look at Winnipeg and Minnesota by checking out ESPN‘S team and goaltender comparisons for tonight’s late night game (another 9 p.m. Central start):
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After looking at the data in the images above, there are no major differences in the numbers in most categories. With Hellebuyck on the shelf, Minnesota benefits from a goaltending advantage, while Winnipeg can claim better penalty killers and spend less time in the sin bin.
Time to see how PuckPedia predicts the clubs will line up tonight (3 PM Central):
WINNIPEG JETS ALIGNING
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MINNESOTA WILD SETUP
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As there will be no pre-game skate due to the central 3pm start time, we cannot confirm how the teams will deploy their players. That said, except Scheifele took a maintenance day that saw Tanner Pearson fill in the top line, there were no changes to the Jets’ lines during yesterday’s practice. So we can expect the same players as in the hard-fought game against the Canes.
My cat Lambo really wants to demand a walk around the neighborhood, so I better give in or he might demand a profession like the Jets prospect he’s named after. 🙂
Go to Winnipeg!!!!!
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AFTER-GAME INFO
Score overview: (courtesy of ESPN)
FINAL SCORE: Minnesota Wild 3 Winnipeg Jets 0
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Game Statistics: (courtesy of MoneyPuck)
Expected goals (all): WPG 2.86 MIN 1.76
Expected goals (5on5): WPG 2.41 MIN 1.55
6 different forward lines for Winnipeg had at least 2:45 of 5 on 5 ice time versus the Wild. The Scheifele line led the way by over 15 minutes, while the Niederreiter-Toews-Nyquist trio came within 8 minutes (1 GA). The other 5 on 5 goal the Jets allowed was against the Perfetti-Toews-Niederreiter line and they were one of 4 units with less than 5:30 of playing time.
Great xG numbers for the 1st and 4th lines….but that data doesn’t count for much if it can’t actually beat the opposition.
Like Ropes for the forwards, Morrissey also had the distinction of being on the ice for both even-strength goals against, once combined with Miller & the other time with Stanley. The early match injury Pionk threw Winnipeg’s defense into a chaotic rotation of 8 pairs that yielded at least 3:33 of playing time at 5-on-5. Samberg seemed to miss his normal partner as he finished with both under 50% xG Miller & Stanley after putting up 100% xG Pionk. Although Sammy played well with it The Melo.
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BOJA’S thoughts after the game:
The Winnipeg Jets’ first period was perfection…except for the lack of goals on the scoreboard despite all the chances they had. That ultimately cost our club a lot of money, because once the Minnesota Wild get a lead, they rarely relinquish it. The second period saw the return of stupid reporting errors and a complete lack of effort from some players on the Jets’ power play, with the Wild’s short-handed marker essentially being the final nail in the Jets’ coffin despite having a full period of hockey to play. Kudos for that Wallstedtwho walked away this afternoon with a score of +2.86 Goals Saved Above Expected. But Winnipeg needs to make it tougher by putting bodies in front of the net when they’re up against a hot goalie… something they haven’t done enough in this one.
I’m pretty sure we’ll see Thomas Milic making his NHL debut during the True Northers’ next appearance. I think the coaching & front office should first see what they have in the young tender before deciding if they should put in the effort to find a replacement tender while Hellebuyck is out. Not like there will be a ton of great options if they do. The schedule only gets more difficult from here (for the most part), so the Winnipeg Jets’ season could quickly be derailed if they don’t find a way to weather the storm.
#Minnesota #Wild #Winnipeg #Jets