The Winnipeg Jets are set to host the New Jersey Devils at Canada Life Centre on Friday night, March 28, 2025, in a matchup that promises to be thrilling despite the snowy conditions outside. Winnipeg has been blanketed with 15 centimeters of snow over the past 24 hours, but that won't dampen the spirits of the Jets, who are riding high after clinching a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a nail-biting 3-2 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
With a record of 49-19-4, the Jets are currently one point behind the Washington Capitals for the top spot in the league, having played the same number of games. However, they need to keep their foot on the gas as the Dallas Stars are hot on their heels, sitting just four points back. The Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues are also in the mix, boasting a combined record of 27-3-3 in their last 33 games. This makes every game crucial as the Jets aim to secure their position in the playoffs.
Injuries are somewhat of a concern for Winnipeg, with Gabe Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari sidelined. In response, Alex Iafallo has stepped up to take a spot on the top line, while David Gustafsson returns to the fourth line. Additionally, Logan Stanley continues to dress on the blue line over Haydn Fleury. Connor Hellebuyck will be in goal, looking to help the Jets become the first team to reach 50 wins this season.
The expected line combinations for the Jets are as follows:
- Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
- Ehlers-Lowry-Appleton
- Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Gustafsson-Barron-Tanev
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Schenn
- Stanley-Miller
- Hellebuyck
On the other side of the ice, the New Jersey Devils (38-28-7) are coming off a 5-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks, snapping a three-game losing streak. However, they have been grappling with injuries to key players, including Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, which has impacted their overall performance. Despite these setbacks, the Devils currently hold a nine-point lead over the New York Islanders for the final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.
The Devils' special teams are impressive, ranking fourth in the NHL for power play efficiency and sixth for penalty killing. In contrast, the Jets have the second-best power play and a 14th-ranked penalty kill. This matchup will see both teams trying to leverage their strengths, with the Jets looking to maintain their dominance at home.
The projected lineup for the Devils is:
- Palat – Hischier – Meier
- Haula – Mercer – Bratt
- Cotter – Dowling – Noesen
- Tatar – Lazar – Bastian
- Luke Hughes – Pesce
- Dumoulin – Kovacevic
- Dillon – Nemec
- Allen
- Markstrom
As the puck drop approaches at 8 PM ET, both teams are aware of the stakes. The Jets cannot afford to ease up after clinching their playoff spot; they need to keep winning to fend off the Dallas Stars and secure a favorable position in the playoffs. Head coach Scott Arniel emphasized the importance of not taking any opponent lightly, especially with ten games left in the regular season.
On the injury front, Rasmus Kupari has had a setback and is listed as day-to-day, which has prompted the coaching staff to monitor his condition closely. His most recent injury was a concussion sustained earlier this month against the Islanders. Meanwhile, the Devils are hoping for a strong performance despite being without their star player Hughes, who underwent shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
With the Jets being 7-3 in their last ten meetings against the Devils, they will look to capitalize on their home-ice advantage. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele have been key players for Winnipeg this month, with Connor tallying six goals and seven assists in his last 12 games, while Scheifele has contributed two goals and ten assists. Nikolaj Ehlers is also having a standout month, tied for the team lead in shots on goal.
The betting odds for this matchup reflect a competitive game, with the Jets favored at -180 and the Devils at +150. The puck line is set at Devils +1.5 (-185) and Jets -1.5 (-125), with the game total at 5.5.
As the Jets prepare to take on the Devils, the atmosphere in Winnipeg is electric. Fans are eager to see if their team can reach the 50-win milestone and maintain their top position in the standings. The Jets will need to bring their A-game to ensure they secure a victory and continue their pursuit of the Presidents’ Trophy.
With the action set to unfold shortly, anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting clash between two teams with much at stake. Be sure to tune in to the broadcast on MSG and join the conversation on social media as the Jets and Devils battle it out on the ice.
