The Winnipeg Jets host the Buffalo Sabres from Canada Life Centre on Friday.
The Winnipeg Jets will take on the Buffalo Sabres from Canada Life Centre on Friday evening.
Coming off an entertaining 6-3 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the 8-5-2 Jets will look to feast on the 7-8-1 Sabres who have lost two-straight games.
Riding the coattails of strong offensive play from Kyle Connor, Winnipeg will resort to a lineup that has given the team decent success over the better part of the past month.
Opting to go with 11 forwards and seven defencemen on Tuesday, the Jets ran into some difficulties in the early stages, when forward Rasmus Kupari went down in the first period and did not return.
He has since been diagnosed with a shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out of action for four-to-six weeks.
In turn, the Jets recalled Axel Jonsson-Fjallby from the Manitoba Moose, and he is expected to make his 2023-24 NHL debut alongside Morgan Barron and David Gustafsson on Friday.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck did not skate on Friday morning, but is expected to take to the crease in the first showing of the back-to-back with Buffalo on Friday. Laurent Brossoit - who did hit the ice at the optional morning skate - will likely man the goal when the Coyotes come to town on Saturday.
After suiting up in just his second game of the season on Tuesday, defenceman Logan Stanley is expected to remain in the lineup.
Fellow blueliner Nate Schmidt stayed on the ice for extra work, indicating he will likely draw out as a healthy scratch, as Winnipeg will return to a more conventional 12/6 split for the penultimate contest of the season-high, five-game homestand from Canada Life Centre.
Expected lines for Friday, November 17 vs. Buffalo:
Connor - Scheifele - Iafallo
Perfetti - Namestnikov - Ehlers
Niederreiter - Lowry - Appleton
Barron - Gustafsson - Jonson-Fjallby
Morrissey - DeMelo
Dillon - Pionk
Samberg - Stanley
Hellebuyck
Scratched: Schmidt
Injured: Heinola, Vilardi, Kupari
Friday's game can be viewed live on TSN, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM central time.