Panthers Look To Spoil Jets Home Opener (Game 2)

It’s game day!

The Winnipeg Jets take flight tonight to face the Florida Panthers at the Canada Life Center in their home opener.

See how your Winnipeg Jets shape up tonight against the Florida Panthers.

Previous Game Recap & Statistics

The Winnipeg Jets suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Calgary Flames. The Flames were red hot last night as Jacob Markstrom stopped 34 of the 37 shots he faced.

First Period

Andrew Mangiapane would score his first of the game off on the powerplay. Kyle Connor wouldn’t score too long after to even up the game at 1-1. However, MacKenzie Weegar would score late in the first period to put Calgary up 2-1.

Second Period

Alex Iafallo would score his first goal in a Winnipeg Jets uniform to even up the game yet again. Winnipeg would also have other dangerous chances to score, but it wasn’t enough to put them in the lead. Rasmus Anderson scored his first goal on the Flames penalty kill shortly after Iafallo’s goal.

Third Period

Mark Scheifele would capitalize late in the third period to tie the game up yet again for the Winnipeg Jets. When things seemed as if they were heading to overtime, defenseman Nate Schmidt left Elias Lindholm wide open in front of Connor Hellebuyck, leading to Lindholm’s first goal of the season. After poor luck and bad bounces, Mangiapane scored the empty netter goal that secured Calgary’s 5-3 victory in their home opener over the Winnipeg Jets.

Notable Takeaways

• Alex Iafallo recorded his first goal/point as a Winnipeg Jet.
• Andrew Mangiapane recorded two goals and one assist for three points.
• Elias Lindholm recorded one goal and two assists for three points.
• Calgary’s penalty kill unit looked strong, minimizing the Jets’ ability to create high-danger chances. The Jets were held to 0/4 on the powerplay, while Calgary also recorded one shorthanded goal.
• Dylan DeMelo recorded his 100th career assist versus the Calgary Flames.
• Winnipeg’s first line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi created their most high-danger opportunities.
• Winnipeg has a deep and talented forward group which allowed them to dominate possession and analytics.
• Winnipeg made crucial mistakes; when Calgary applied pressure, Winnipeg was caught panicking, allowing Calgary to score.

Season Statistics Up Until Now

After last night’s defeat in Calgary, the Winnipeg Jets now sit with a record of 0-1-0, leading them to place dead last in the central division. Winnipeg will look to change their placement in the standings with a victory over the 2023 Stanley Cup runner-ups tonight.

Preview of Winnipeg Jets vs Florida Panthers

Tonight’s Projected Lineup

Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers – Cole Perfetti – Nino Niederreiter
Alex Iafallo – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron – Rasmus Kupari – Vladislav Namestnikov
Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk
Brendan Dillon – Nate Schmidt
Laurent Brossoit & Connor Hellebuyck

Lineup Changes From Last Game & AHL Callups

Thankfully, Nikolaj Ehlers is not injured and is set to play in tonight’s matchup versus Florida. There have been no AHL Callups ahead of this game. Projected lineups have the same forward cor, whereas Brendan Dillon and Dylan Samberg switch places in the defense lineup.

Essential Things To Look For In Tonight’s Game

The previous game preview that I wrote contained a lot of player-specific information. However, I want to focus a little bit more on strategy and general game management.

Line Deployment

This one is tricky because of general management in a game and when special units need to be deployed as the game happens. The Winnipeg Jets are strong in managing their line deployment, but they’re most effective when it comes to deploying tactics in-game.

The Jets have a great top-9 forward group. Their depth is also great, and the amount of flexibility that is available to head coach Rick Bowness is not as bad as first thought. Bowness deployed Adam Lowry’s line to begin the last game and quickly paired his top line against Calgary’s middle six. However, Bowness deploys his top line differently to navigate other teams’ systems. It will be interesting to see Bowness’ strategy in tonight’s game.

Special Unit Strategy

There isn’t much to say about this other than the Winnipeg Jets were 0/4 on the power play against Calgary. As much as the power play looked like a wagon versus Calgary, they couldn’t find the back of the net. Bowness will likely leave the power play units alone from any line changes because of the units’ lack of success in their season opener versus Calgary.

Which Winnipeg Jet Is Close To Career Milestones

There are a few career milestones that Winnipeg Jets players are getting close to. See the list below.

• Nikolaj Ehlers is four points away from 400 career points. He could achieve this tonight versus Florida if he records a four-point game.
• Mark Scheifele is four points away from 650 career points. He could achieve this tonight versus Florida if he records a four-point game.
• Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi can record their first points as Winnipeg Jets players if they score a goal or an assist in tonight’s game versus Florida.
• Mason Appleton is three assists away from 50 career assists. He could achieve this tonight versus Florida if he records three assists tonight.
• Vladislav Namestnikov is four assists away from 150 career assists. He could achieve this tonight versus Florida if he records four assists tonight.
• Brendan Dillon is three assists away from 150 career assists. He could achieve this tonight versus Florida if he records three assists tonight.
• Declan Chisholm can record his first career NHL point if he scores a goal or records an assist in tonight’s game versus Florida.

Samberg's Contract, Jets Outlook, Moose Watch, and Bombers Trouble (01) – Jacko Media

In this week's episode of the Jacko Media Show, Conrad Jack breaks down the developments around Dylan Samberg's arbitration filing and what it means for the Winnipeg Jets as they prepare for the 2025-26 season. What does Samberg’s contract battle tell us about the team’s direction? And how does it impact Winnipeg’s defensive depth?We also take a broader look at the Jets' offseason moves and what storylines are already brewing ahead of puck drop. From player development to potential breakout stars, Conrad gives his take on where the team stands now and what fans should watch for come training camp.Shifting gears to the AHL, the spotlight turns briefly to the Manitoba Moose as we look at their early storylines and how they fit into the larger hockey picture in Winnipeg. What can we expect from the Moose this year, and how will their younger core contribute to the Jets pipeline?Finally, the focus briefly turns to the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Have they reached the beginning of the end of their dominant run? After a rocky stretch, questions are swirling about depth, age, and whether the team can still contend. Conrad shares his thoughts on what’s gone wrong and whether there’s time to right the ship.