Winnipeg Jets News

The Oilers are expected to give Stuart Skinner the nod in Sunday's Heritage Classic against the Flames. Both Skinner and fellow Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell have struggled to find their form early on in the 2023-24 season, but Skinner did enjoy his finest start of the season in Edmonton's most recent game against the Rangers on Thursday. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in a losing effort as the Oilers were uncharacteristically shut out on home ice. Outdoor games always bring some extra uncertainty with them, but the Oilers are -155 favourites to pick up the win on Sunday, and the line could move further in their favour if Connor McDavid is able to return to the lineup.

Skinner will be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday after serving as the backup for three of their last four contests. The Oilers, who will once again be without Connor McDavid (upper-body), will be desperate to get their season on track as they are off to a disappointing 1-4-1 start. Last year's best offensive team (3.96 GF/GP) is averaging only 2.83 goals per game and is being outscored by an alarm 17-27 total. The Oilers will be challenged by the New York Rangers (-126 road favourites) and will hope that sophomore Stuart Skinner can recapture some of the magic he had last season as a Calder Trophy finalist.

Hellebuyck will look to extend his two-game winning streak as he appears to be the starting goalie for the Jets on Thursday. After an uncharacteristic start to the season, posting a .843 SV% through his first three contests (1-2-0), Hellebuyck seems to have regained his Vezina-caliber form, boasting a .933 SV% in his two games since (2-0-0). Hellebuyck and the Jets might be facing their toughest matchup of the season as they visit the high-flying Detroit Red Wings who are averaging an absurd 4.86 goals per game to start the season (5-1-1).

It appears Skinner will be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday after serving as the backup for three of their last four contests. The Oilers, who will once again be without Connor McDavid (upper-body), will be desperate to get their season on track as they are off to a disappointing 1-4-1 start. Last year's best offensive team (3.96 GF/GP) is averaging only 2.83 goals per game and is being outscored by an alarm 17-27 total. The Oilers will be challenged by the New York Rangers (-126 road favourites) and will hope that sophomore Stuart Skinner can recapture some of the magic he had last season as a Calder Trophy finalist.

Hellebuyck will look to extend his two-game winning streak as he appears to be the starting goalie for the Jets on Thursday. After an uncharacteristic start to the season, posting a .843 SV% through his first three contests (1-2-0), Hellebuyck seems to have regained his Vezina-caliber form, boasting a .933 SV% in his two games since (2-0-0). Hellebuyck and the Jets might be facing their toughest matchup of the season as they visit the high-flying Detroit Red Wings who are averaging an absurd 4.86 goals per game to start the season (5-1-1).

Hellebuyck will start on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues and look to improve on his uncharacteristically poor start to the season. In four games, Hellebuyck has salvaged a 2-2-0 record despite an unsightly 3.72 GAA and .878 SV%. Hellebuyck has only finished a season with a sub- .910 SV% once in his career and should be able to get back on track against a Blues team that ranks fourth-worst offensively (2.00 GF/GP). As such, the Jets enter action as -182 home favourites.

Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a loss to Los Angeles in his previous start but will be looking to turn the tides Saturday as he takes on Edmonton. The 30-year-old workhouse has struggled out of the gate this season, with a 1-2-0 record, .843 SV% and a 4.38 GAA. He takes on the Edmonton Oilers, who have lost three of their first four games to start the season and are tied for 19th in the NHL in goals per game (2.75).

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots (.750 SV%) in his previous start as he lost to Vancouver but will look for redemption Saturday as he takes on Winnipeg. The 24-year-old has had a horrific two appearances for the Oilers thus far in 2023-24, with his 0-2-0 record, 5.33 GAA and .750 SV%. He will face the Winnipeg Jets, who have lost their last two games but are fourth in the NHL in shots per game (34.5).

Jets' newcomer Vilardi will miss approximately four to six weeks after suffering an injury (sprained MCL) in Tuesday's matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. In three games this season, Vilardi was seeing time on the top line and top powerplay unit, recording one assist and nine shots on goal. The loss is a sizeable one for the Jets, who will likely turn to Mason Appleton and Alex Iafallo for an increase in playing time.

Jets' newcomer Vilardi will miss approximately four to six weeks after suffering an injury yesterday (sprained MCL) in a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. In three games this season, Vilardi was seeing time on the top line and top powerplay unit, recording one assist and nine shots on goal. The loss is a sizeable one for the Jets, who will likely turn to Mason Appleton and Alex Iafallo for an increase in playing time.

Thrun has two assists, one SOG, and a -1 plus/minus through two games with San Jose in 2023-24 but finds himself the odd man out on their roster as he was reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Wednesday. The 22-year-old will endure his first taste of AHL action after he made the jump to the NHL straight from Harvard (NCAA) in 2022-23.

Vilardi suffered what the Jets are calling a lower-body injury after falling awkwardly following a hit from the Kings Blake Lizotte. Vilardi scored 23 goals and added 18 assists in 63 games with the Kings last season before heading to Winnipeg as part of the trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles. The 24-year-old Vilardi had impressed in his first two games as a Jet, registering one assist and nine shots on goal.

Thrun was a healthy scratch for the Sharks' previous game vs. Colorado but will draw back into San Jose's lineup as they take on Carolina Tuesday. The 22-year-old had an assist, one SOG, and a -1 plus/minus across 19:29 TOI in his only game played this season. He will replace Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the Sharks' lineup Tuesday.

Hellebuyck will tend the crease for the third consecutive game to open the season for the Jets. After signing a massive contract extension before the start of the season, Hellebuyck has struggled out of the starting block. In his two games so far (1-1-0), Hellebuyck has a very uncharacteristic 4.07 GAA and .852 SV%. He will look to get things back in order tonight as the Jets are -130 home favourites against a Los Angeles Kings team that is still searching for their first win of the season (0-1-1).

Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 21 shots in the Jets' loss in Winnipeg on opening night. It was a tough start to the season for the workhorse netminder, but he should be relied upon whenever he gets the nod. This afternoon he'll face a Panthers team that was shutout in their first game and come in without Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour and Sam Bennett.

Thrun had one assist and one shot in 19:29 TOI in the Sharks season-opening loss to the Golden Knights. However, he will come out of the lineup on Saturday to make room for Nikolai Knyzhov to make his season debut.

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however, Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.