Winnipeg Jets @ Toronto Maple Leafs
07:00 PM at Scotiabank Arena
Watch on: NHLN, SNO, TSN3

The Leafs last game was at home on December 30 against the New Jersey Devils, which Toronto won by a score of 4-0 in regulation in a shutout and it was fun. The Leafs have a record of 18-15-6 for a 0.538 Points %.

The Winnipeg Jets last played away on December 31 against the Detroit Red Wings. The Jets lost by a score of 2-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 15-19-4 for a 0.447 Points %.

Them

Standings don't lie, this team was great last year and are terrible now. Right?

Daily Faceoff lays out the situation with Connor Hellebuyck:

The Jets went 3-8-1 in 12 games with Hellebuyck sidelined due to a knee injury, but unfortunately for them, their struggles have continued since Hellebuyck's return. The 32-year-old goalie has just one win since his return, posting a 2.65 GAA and .893 SV% in seven games (1-3-3). The Jets enter Wednesday's contest as -107 road favorites against a Detroit Red Wings team that is 7-3-0 in its last 10 games.

If the team is allowing 2.65 goals against, which should enable a lot of wins if you score goals, that seems to not just be a goalie problem, so they might be bad now. Were they ever good?

Yes, at five-on-five last year, the Jets were sixth best in Expected Goals %. They had the best team Save % in the NHL, because you need those kinds of seasons to run away with the standings, but they weren't just goaltending.

This year they are 26th in xG%, right behind the Leafs. Their power play is poor and they score under expected. Their PK is better, but is not a big strength. Their team Save % is .891, which is in the average range. They have the fourth-lowest Goals For in the Western Conference, tied with offensively challenged teams Chicago and Calgary.

Why? Well, who knows, it won't be just one thing, it won't just be the coach – I bet there's a large constituency who wants him fired, whoever he is. I checked the Twitter rage machine, and yes, yes there is.

Apparently the team is playing better lately. Hellebuyck played last night, Comrie should get tonight's start.

Lines

Mitchell Clinton via Daily Faceoff from last night's game.

Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Gabriel Vilardi
Cole Perfetti - Jonathan Toews - Alex Iafallo
Morgan Barron - Adam Lowry - Tanner Pearson
Nino Niederreiter - Vladislav Namestnikov - Gustav Nyquist

Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg - Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley - Luke Schenn

Eric Comrie
Connor Hellebuyck

Us

In case you missed it, the latest injury report is:

  • William Nylander - day-to-day with an LBI and not playing today
  • Auston Matthews - will play today, has been out with an LBI after taking a puck off the leg
  • Brandon Carlo - will return in the next game or so after surgery on his foot, he has been practicing for a week or more
  • Dakota Mermis - day-to-day with an LBI
  • Anthony Stolarz - skated for the first time this week, no timeline for return
  • Dakota Joshua - spent the day with family after leaving the Detroit hospital (he is from Dearborn) and will return to Toronto, no timeline on return after an injury from a hit that damaged a kidney
  • Chris Tanev - suffered a groin injury in Detroit, no timeline on return but it will be significant time missed

The last three on that list are all listed as week-to-week.

Lines

From Morning Skate:

Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Max Domi
Matias Maccelli - John Tavares - Bobby McMann
Easton Cowan - Nicolas Roy - Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Calle Järnkrok

Morgan Rielly - Philippe Myers
Jake McCabe - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit - Troy Stecher

Joe Woll - starter
Dennis Hildeby

The Game

Someone's getting a much needed win tonight.

Game Coverage