I’m not actually certain if the Winnipeg Jets are in Florida to play hockey or simply meet up with their former coaches. Throughout yesterday’s follow, the staff obtained a shock go to from lately retired Rick Bowness as they ready to go head-to-head in opposition to Paul Maurice’s Florida Panthers on Saturday evening.
The primary contest within the state didn’t go that properly, as our Jets had been out-hustled & out-skated by the Tampa Bay Lightning, resulting in the Peggers shedding their 2nd contest of the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Right here’s hoping that we get to witness a extra motivated squad tonight in opposition to the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
When the puck is dropped at 6 pm CST tonight on the Amerant Financial institution Area, the 15-2-0 Winnipeg Jets will tackle the 11-5-1 Florida Panthers in a battle between two of the NHL’s prime 5 franchises. Each squads are coming in off losses, because the Jets dropped the beforehand talked about recreation to the Bolts and the Panthers had been swept in a 2 recreation collection in opposition to the New Jersey Devils. Neither staff is coping with vastly vital accidents, with Winnipeg lacking third pairing protection choices in Logan Stanley & Ville Heinola and the Cats being with out ahead Tomas Nosek. The sport will even give Jets’ followers the prospect to see former defenseman Nate Schmidt once more, as he fits up for the defending champs.
The Winnipeg Jets are being led offensively by Kyle Connor (22 pts), Mark Scheifele (21), & Nikolaj Ehlers (20), however additionally they have 11 skaters with no less than 10 factors. The Jets have been getting strong goaltending from the defending Vezina winner, Connor Hellebuyck (1.92 GAA/.934%) and backup Eric Comrie (2.78 GAA/.909).
Right here is how PuckPedia predicts head coach Scott Arniel will deploy his troops tonight:
The Florida Panthers’ main scorer is winger Sam Reinhart, who has 13 targets and 25 factors within the Cats’ opening 17 video games. Star gamers have missed some video games for the Panthers, with Aleksander Barkov lacking 8 contests, however remains to be piling up the factors (14 pts), whereas Matthew Tkachuk wasn’t within the lineup for five matches (11). Different key scorers embody Sam Bennett (16), Anton Lundell (14), and Carter Verhaeghe (12).
Regardless of being a key cause for his or her latest Cup win, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t been placing up incredible numbers this 12 months (3.14 GAA/.889%), though his win-loss file remains to be good (8-3-1). Backup Spencer Knight has completed a bit higher in his 6 begins stat-wise (2.85 GAA/.897%), however his file isn’t as good (3-2-0).
Right here is how PuckPedia is projecting coach Paul Maurice to line up their gamers on Saturday:
Time to take a look at how the 2 franchises evaluate head-to-head based mostly on this season’s stats and to take a look at ESPN’s evaluate of the masked males:
Each franchises needs to be properly motivated to select up a win tonight, even if they sit atop their Division standings. The Florida Panthers solely have a 1 level lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs within the Atlantic, whereas the Winnipeg Jets nice begin has solely given them a 5 level cushion on the recent Minnesota Wild within the Central.
If you wish to take a look at the enemies’ perspective of tonight’s conflict, take a look at the hyperlink beneath:
Will our staff return to the win column tonight in opposition to their former coach? Who would be the Jets finest gamers within the match? Can Winnipeg discover the depth they should take down a high quality opponent? So many questions that may solely be answered by tuning on this night. Take pleasure in your weekend everybody!!
Go Winnipeg!!
