Oct 25, 2026 5:59 PM
Dawson Mercer debuts and Elias Salomonsson joins the blueline as Winnipeg battles Montreal outdoors, seeking to snap a four-game skid despite the absence of star Josh Morrissey.
The Winnipeg Jets are taking their talents outdoors Sunday evening, welcoming the Montreal Canadiens to Princess Auto Stadium for the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic.
Winnipeg will look to snap a four-game winless streak in front of a packed stadium, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The Jets will have a couple of new faces in the lineup, including Dawson Mercer, who will make his Winnipeg debut just two days after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the blockbuster Connor Hellebuyck trade.
Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today Mercer will skate alongside captain Adam Lowry and Isak Rosén on the third line, while Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti remain together on the top unit. Alex Iafallo, Viggo Björck and Gabriel Vilardi make up the second line, with Cole Koepke, Morgan Barron and Nino Niederreiter rounding out the forward group.
On defence, Elias Salomonsson draws into the lineup after being recalled from the Manitoba Moose on Saturday. The young Swedish blueliner will skate alongside Mario Ferraro, while Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk remain together on the top pairing.
Haydn Fleury and Dylan DeMelo round out the defensive group, with Tyrel Bauer expected to be a healthy scratch. Josh Morrissey remains sidelined with an injury, leaving Winnipeg without its top defenceman and its top fighter for the outdoor contest.
Stuart Skinner gets the start in goal for Winnipeg, having stopped 35 of 38 shots in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.
Sunday marks Winnipeg's third outdoor NHL game and second Heritage Classic hosted at the stadium, following the 2016 contest against Edmonton. The Jets also participated in the 2019 Heritage Classic in Regina, defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime.
Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Sunday, October 25 vs. Montreal:
Connor-Scheifele-Perfetti
Iafallo-Björck-Vilardi
Rosén-Lowry-Mercer
Koepke-Barron-Niederreiter
Samberg-Pionk
Ferraro-Salomonsson
Fleury-DeMelo
Skinner
Healthy Scratches: Bauer, Lambert
Injured: Morrissey, Namestnikov, Bjugstad
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