Jets face Vegas with lineup shifts, a draft lottery push, and slim playoff hopes hinging on crucial losses.
The 35-32-12 Winnipeg Jets are in Vegas for a test against the 37-26-17 Golden Knights on Monday night.
Now, more than ever, the Jets will need losses across the board.
Photo by James Carey Lauder/USA Today A.) for the Jets' hockey club itself, to maintain a better position in the draft lottery for the NHL Draft this June.
B.) in case the Jets are able to win out the remaining three games of their schedule, they would need all of Los Angeles, Nashville and San Jose to also lose each of their remaining games, to allow Winnipeg a chance at the final wild card playoff spot.
There will be a number of changes to the Jets' lineup on Monday.
Nikita Chibrikov will return to Winnipeg's roster for the game since being sent down following injury recalls in the earlier stages of the season. While Brayden Yager will make his long awaited NHL debut - skating with Chibrikov and Nino Niederreiter.
Neal Pionk, Alex Iafallo and Vlad Namestnikov will all sit out due to injury - likely for the rest of the season, pending a miracle.
Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal for the first test of the back-to-back.
Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Monday, April 13 at Vegas:
Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Perfetti-Lowry-Lambert
Koepke-Toews-Rosén
Niederreiter-Yager-Chibrikov
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Miller
Fleury-Bryson
Hellebuyck