Jets and Wild Prepare for Central Division Clash: Projected Lineups and Game Preview
The Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild are set to face off tonight at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, at 8:00 PM ET. This Central Division matchup sees the Jets (6-3-0) looking to continue their strong start to the season, while the Wild (3-5-2) aim to break out of their recent slump.
Projected Lineups
Here are the projected lineups for tonight's game, based on the latest information:
Winnipeg Jets:
- Forwards:
- Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Gabriel Vilardi
- Vladislav Namestnikov - Jonathan Toews - Alex Iafallo
- Nino Niederreiter - Morgan Barron - Gustav Nyquist
- Cole Koepke - Parker Ford - Tanner Pearson
- Defense:
- Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
- Logan Stanley - Neal Pionk
- Haydn Fleury - Luke Schenn
- Goalies:
- Connor Hellebuyck (Likely starter)
- Eric Comrie
Minnesota Wild:
- Forwards:
- Kirill Kaprizov - Marco Rossi - Marcus Johansson
- Vladimir Tarasenko - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
- Yakov Trenin - Ryan Hartman - Vinnie Hinostroza
- Ben Jones - Danila Yurov - Tyler Pitlick
- Defense:
- Jonas Brodin - Brock Faber
- Jake Middleton - Jared Spurgeon
- Zeev Buium - David Jiříček
- Goalies:
- Filip Gustavsson (Likely starter)
- Jesper Wallstedt
Team News and Injuries
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets are currently without forwards Adam Lowry (hip surgery), Cole Perfetti (ankle), and defenseman Dylan Samberg (wrist), all on injured reserve. Coach Scott Arniel has recently shuffled the second, third, and fourth lines in an attempt to find better chemistry.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild's injury list includes forwards Mats Zuccarello (lower body) and Nico Sturm (back), as well as defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body). Marcus Foligno is questionable with an upper-body injury. Zuccarello has recently joined the group for practice but is expected to return in mid-November.
Players to Watch
Winnipeg Jets:
- Mark Scheifele: Scheifele leads the Jets with 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists). He has a strong track record against the Wild, with 34 points in 44 career games.
- Connor Hellebuyck: The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Hellebuyck, has a 2.16 GAA and a .928 save percentage this season. He also boasts a 15-10-2 record against the Wild.
Minnesota Wild:
- Kirill Kaprizov: Kaprizov is a key offensive driver for the Wild, leading the team with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists).
- Matt Boldy: Boldy has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) and is another important offensive contributor for Minnesota.
Analysis
The Jets enter the game with a 6-3-0 record, while the Wild are struggling at 3-5-2. Winnipeg is 3-2-0 in their last five games, averaging 2.6 goals per game and allowing 2.2. Minnesota has lost six of their last seven, averaging 2.1 goals per game and allowing 4.1.
Winnipeg's power play has been a significant strength, operating at 29%, while Minnesota's penalty kill has struggled, with a 60.9% efficiency. Hellebuyck's stellar goaltending gives the Jets a significant advantage in net.
Prediction
Based on current form and goaltending matchups, the Winnipeg Jets are favored to win tonight's game. The Jets have won each of their last eight games against the Wild. However, the Wild will be motivated to turn things around on home ice.
