Jets Gameday Preview: Connor Hellebuyck’s return to Winnipeg on hold as Devils visit Jets

Sunday’s 4-3 regulation win over Tampa Bay gave the Winnipeg Jets another result to build on as they prepare to host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday at Canada Life Centre. Winnipeg has won three consecutive games and will try to extend that run against a team enjoying a longer streak of its own.

New Jersey arrives with five straight wins, most recently shutting out Toronto 4-0 on Sunday. The Jets’ offence has found its footing as of late, but keeping the Devils off the scoresheet presents a different test.

Winnipeg has scored 15 goals and allowed nine during thier three-game winning streak. The scoring has provided enough support to keep collecting wins, but tightening up at the other end would ease the burden on an attack that has scored at least four goals in each victory.

Nico Daws is confirmed to start for Winnipeg, with Jake Allen confirmed for New Jersey. The skater combinations below remain projected.

Allen’s start means Connor Hellebuyck will not start against his former team on his return to Winnipeg, despite supposedly wanting the assignment.

“I’m disappointed, but I understand. Selfishly, I want to play,” Hellebuyck said.

Devils general manager Sunny Mehta called it an organizational decision, saying the club believed playing Hellebuyck could potentially “reduce its expected win probability.” Keefe cited Hellebuyck’s workload and two upcoming divisional games against Washington. Jets coach Scott Arniel’s reaction centred on the lack of closure: “All this does is drag this out and [make us] talk about it again.”

Hellebuyck’s former Jets teammates didn’t mince words, either.

“I honestly didn’t even think that was a possibility,” Connor told reporters, including Mike McIntyre of Winnipeg News, on Monday. “I was pretty surprised… I think we all hoped he was playing.”

Gabriel Vilardi – Mark Scheifele – Kyle Connor
Dawson Mercer – Brayden Yager – Cole Perfetti
Viggo Björck – Adam Lowry – Alex Iafallo
Isak Rosén – Morgan Barron – Cole Koepke

Dylan DeMelo – Josh Morrissey
Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk
Tyrel Bauer – Mario Ferraro

Winnipeg goalie: Nico Daws

Morrissey returns to the Jets’ lineup after a 14-game absence. Nick Bjugstad is out with a pectoral injury, Vladislav Namestnikov is out with an undisclosed injury, and Elias Salomonsson is away from the team for personal reasons.

Arseni Gritsyuk – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Luke Evangelista – Nico Hischier – Timo Meier
Connor Brown – Cody Glass – Amadeus Lombardi
Jesper Boqvist – Evan Rodrigues

Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Johnathan Kovacevic – Declan Chisholm

New Jersey goalie: Jake Allen

Seamus Casey is out with a knee injury. Anthony Mantha remains day-to-day with a neck issue for New Jersey.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.