Wahlin is an undrafted forward that just finished his fourth year of collegiate hockey. The 24-year-old was offered a one-year, entry-level contract by the Winnipeg Jets after scoring 39 points (21G / 18A) this season in 36 games with the University of St. Thomas.
The Jets remain within reaching distance of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but will need Hellebuyck to improve his play if they have any intentions of returning to the postseason. The 32-year-old American goalie allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-4 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has allowed three or more goals in 11 of his last 16 games (5-6-5), posting a disappointing 3.24 GAA and .885 SV%. The Jets enter Tuesday's contest as +116 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has only scored four combined goals in their last four games (1-3-0).
The Jets remain within reaching distance of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but will need Hellebuyck to improve his play if they have any intentions of returning to the postseason. The 32-year-old American goalie allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-4 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has allowed three or more goals in 11 of his last 16 games (5-6-5), posting a disappointing 3.24 GAA and .885 SV%. The Jets enter Tuesday's contest as +116 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has only scored four combined goals in their last four games (1-3-0).
Pionk has been sidelined since January 13th, but he will replace Haydn Fleury in the lineup on Saturday. Pionk, who tied a career-high with 10 goals last season, has scored just twice with six assists (eight points) in 40 games this season.
Hellebuyck surrendered six goals on 27 shots in the Jets' loss in Boston on Thursday. Hellebuyck has really struggled as of late, losing four of his last five games (1-3-1) while posting an ugly 3.62 GAA and .860 SV%. This afternoon he faces the Penguins as +137 road underdogs.
Pionk has been out since January 13th, but the Jets have cleared the way for him to return to the lineup vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday. Pionk enters the game with just eight points (2G / 6A) in 40 games this season.
Pionk has been sidelined since mid-January, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at morning skate on Thursday. The Jets, who are making a late-season push for a Wild Card spot, would greatly benefit from Pionk returning to the lineup. The 30-year-old defenseman was averaging 22:47 time-on-ice, recording eight points (2G / 6A), 64 blocks, and 84 hits in 40 games before his injury.
The Jets continue to hover around reaching distance of a Wild Card spot and could desperately use Hellebuyck to return to the form that helped him win three Vezina trophies in order to get them an extra boost. That said, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has struggled with consistency this season. He allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators, giving him a pedestrian 2.63 GAA and .902 SV% in nine games (4-2-3) since returning from the Olympic break. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three of its last four games (1-1-2).
The Jets continue to hover around reaching distance of a Wild Card spot and could desperately use Hellebuyck to return to the form that helped him win three Vezina trophies in order to get them an extra boost. That said, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has struggled with consistency this season. He allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators, giving him a pedestrian 2.63 GAA and .902 SV% in nine games (4-2-3) since returning from the Olympic break. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three of its last four games (1-1-2).
Freij was drafted by Winnipeg in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is gearing up to make his professional North American debut in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. The 20-year-old defenseman had 11 points (6G / 5A) this season in 42 games with Timra IK (SweHL).
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Wednesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner snapped a five-game losing streak (0-1-4) in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Penguins, welcoming their leader, Sidney Crosby (lower body), back into the lineup after a multi-week absence, enter Wednesday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that defeated them 5-4 in a shootout less than two weeks ago.
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Wednesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner snapped a five-game losing streak (0-1-4) in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Penguins, welcoming their leader, Sidney Crosby (lower body), back into the lineup after a multi-week absence, enter Wednesday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that defeated them 5-4 in a shootout less than two weeks ago.
Hellebuyck has lost two of his last three (1-2-0), but has played better lately in a mostly disappointing 2025-26 campaign as the Jets continue their late-season push for a Wild Card spot. Since returning from the Olympic break, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed two or fewer goals in five of eight games (4-2-2), posting a 2.61 GAA and .905 SV%. The Jets enter Tuesday's crucial contest as -133 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that is one point ahead of them in the standings.
Hellebuyck has lost two of his last three (1-2-0), but has played better lately in a mostly disappointing 2025-26 campaign as the Jets continue their late-season push for a Wild Card spot. Since returning from the Olympic break, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed two or fewer goals in five of eight games (4-2-2), posting a 2.61 GAA and .905 SV%. The Jets enter Tuesday's crucial contest as -133 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that is one point ahead of them in the standings.
Pionk has been sidelined since mid-January, but appears to be inching closer to a return after returning to practice in a limited capacity on Tuesday. The Jets, who are making a late-season push for a Wild Card spot, would greatly benefit from Pionk returning to the lineup. The 30-year-old defenseman was averaging 22:47 time-on-ice, recording eight points (2G / 6A), 64 blocks, and 84 hits in 40 games before his injury.
Thrun was recalled over the weekend for precautionary measures with Oliver Ekman-Larsson (personal) out of the lineup, but he will head back to the AHL. The 25-year-old Thrun has 20 points (4G / 16A) in 42 games with the Marlies (AHL) this season.
St. Ivany has not played since undergoing surgery on his left hand in late January, but is nearing a return after completing a conditioning stint in the AHL. The 26-year-old defenseman was averaging 15:39 time-on-ice and had seven assists in 17 games before his injury. Alexander Alexeyev has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) in a corresponding move.
