The 49-19-4 Winnipeg Jets are set to host the 38-28-7 New Jersey Devils from snowy Manitoba on Friday night.
Doused with 15 centimetres of snow over the past 24 hours, Winnipeg's Canada Life Centre will host the first game of the season that truly doesn't matter for the Jets' initial playoff chances.
We say 'initial' because every game matter in terms of final standings, finishing placements and season series', but as of Winnipeg's 3-2 overtime victory on Tuesday, the Jets are in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
They enter the night one point behind Washington for first overall, while having played the same amount of games as the Capitals.
But more concerning for the Jets are the red-hot Dallas Stars who sit just four points behind Winnipeg, as well as the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, who have combined for a 27-3-3 record in their last 33 games played, combined.
With injuries to Gabe Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari, Alex Iafallo has positioned himself on the top line, while David Gustafsson draws back into the fold on the fourth grouping. The second and third lines have see some adjustments as well. Logan Stanley continues to dress on the blueline over Haydn Fleury.
Connor Hellebuyck will get the nod between the pipes as the Jets look to become the first team to hit 50 wins on the season.
Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Friday, March 28 vs. New Jersey:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Ehlers-Lowry-Appleton
Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Gustafsson-Barron-Tanev
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Schenn
Stanley-Miller
Hellebuyck
