Jets Game day three: Winnipeg Jets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 6PM start

Toronto Maple Leafs are in Winnipeg tonight to take on the Jets at Canada Life Centre tonight at 6. The Jets are coming off a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden knights. The Jets would lose their game against the Knights in just a 16-minute time frame where the Golden Knights would score four goals. Some folks already want to run David Rittich out of town for the quick goals against. I still think the whole team was brutal defensively which lead to all four of those goals and the ultimate loss. Neal Pionk has been on a two-game tear, scoring three goals in that time. The Jets are sitting at a record of 2-2 to start the season which is a good place to be when you consider they have played some of the best teams in the NHL. Unfortunately, the Jets have a goal differential of minus two. We need more consistent goals for the top six at this point. In games one and two the top line was scoring and the second line would not be found. During games three and four the second line scored and the top line was missing in action.  The big thing the Jets need to do if they want to be successful is showing up for the first puck drop and stay engaged for the full game. They should know and do it going into tonight’s game. We don’t need a repeat of Thursday.

The Maple Leafs are coming off a big overtime win over the Dallas Stars. The Leafs Nation has been a roller coaster and a half to start the season. Leafs fans want success every night of the year and really want it after all those first-round losses. The Leafs have beaten really good teams and then have lost to both the Montreal Canadiens and the Arizona Coyotes. This should be a reminder never to underestimate your opponents.

Both teams have been hit with the injury bug early on this season. The Jets just added Nikolaj Ehlers to the injured reserve, and Dylan Samberg is still day-to-day. For the Leafs they are without Timothy Lilegren, Jordie Benn, Matt Murray and Jake Muzzin.

Bench boss Rick Bowness is going to be behind the bench for the first time in the regular season after contracting COVID-19. The Leafs will have someone appearing in their first game of the season tonight too. Wayne Simmonds hasn’t played because of the Leafs salary cap issues.

Connor Hellebuyck gets the start for the Jets tonight. He has looked good to start the season. 2-1 to start with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. Statmuse.com has noted that Hellebuyck has a 7-6-3 record against the Leafs with a 3.07 goals-against average and a save percentage of .909.

Ilya Samsonov has started his season perfectly with a 3-0 record. The 6’3 goalie has seen an average of 25 shots against and has a goals-against average of 1.96 and a .927 save percentage. Samsonov has only played one game against the Jets and lost that game, but has a 2.03 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.

Since the shorted 2020-21 season, the Jets have a record of 5-5-2 against the Leafs.

This should be another high-scoring, rowdy game between the Jets and Leafs last season in the two match-ups between these two competitors there were 19 goals scored and 114 penalty minutes. Elton John said it best “Saturday night is alright for fighting.”

William Nylander leads the Leafs in goals(3) and points(5), watch for Morgan Rielly’s passing he is producing an assist a game.

I had to go double-check the stats for the Jets as Neal Pionk leads the Jets in points with four, three of which have been goals. Mark Scheifele also has three goals for the Jets.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby has been buzzing in his two games with the Jets so far. He is my player to watch tonight. Logan Stanley would only play three shifts in the final frame against Vegas on Thursday night he is my player of concern.

Connor Hellebuyck is a top-five goalie in the NHL and Samsonov has been red hot if you’re looking for bets I would take this game at under 6.5 goals.

I will be putting a few bucks on the Jets to win at +145. If you have more faith in the Leafs they are -176 on the money over at Points Bet Canada.