MAILBAG CALL-OUT
We’re getting ready for our first monthly Jets mailbag of 2026, which will go online next week. Got a question about the hockey club? Simply hit reply to this email and Mike and Ken will be sure to tackle it.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: The Jets have now opened the scoring in 10 of their past 11 games, which is very impressive and suggests they’ve been ready to start on time lately.
But one area the Jets have really struggled this season is lighting the lamp in the third period. They are second-worst in the NHL when it comes to offence in the final frame, which suggests they are often easing off the gas pedal.
“I don’t have the exact answer on it. It’s not that we’re trying on purpose to change our style of play in the third period,” Arniel said when the subject was raised this morning.
“I think it’s just something that we’ve talked about, trying to do a better job with. I think there was a fragile stage there, where we were afraid to make a mistake. And then when you do that you’re on your heels and the opposition is coming at you all night long. We’ve talked about it, we’ve looked at it. I just think, for us, that’s last week’s news.”
Fair enough, but even Tuesday’s win over the Blues suggests this is still a thing of the present.
Winnipeg took a 2-1 lead into the final 20 minutes and generated just two shots on goal — one into an empty net, which sealed the victory.
In defence, Winnipeg was playing for a second straight night, which included travel, so perhaps they were simply running out of gas at that point.
The math still doesn’t really check out for the Jets, who have gone from tied for 31st in the NHL and 11 points out of a playoff spot to alone in 30th in the NHL and seven points out of a playoff spot by virtue of this current 5-1-1 stretch.
With seven games remaining until the Olympic break, it sure feels like Winnipeg has to find a way to collect at least 10 points in that span to still have a fighting chance and perhaps give their general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, a reason not to start looking around to see what parts he might be able to sell to true contenders.
Logan Stanley continues to be an offensive revelation, and the big man has a whopping 16 shot attempts in the last two games.
His confidence is off the charts, and you sure can feel the sense of anticipation and buzz in the crowd every time the puck is on his stick. He did a solid job playing on his off-side with Salomonsson sidelined with injury — I liked how it opened up his one-timer from the point — and he’s looked comfortable on the second power play unit with Neal Pionk currently sidelined with injury.
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Logan Stanley (Craig Lassig / The Associated Press files)
I still think the Jets have to consider trading the pending UFA prior to the deadline, on the premise that his value may never be higher, but I can also see the argument for trying to keep him around beyond this season if the price is right. Cheveldayoff is going to have a tough call to make at some point soon.
KEN SAYS: It’s the latest in a long line of important games for the Jets leading into the Olympic break and the sense of urgency for both teams is going to be sky high.
Jets centre Mark Scheifele responded from a rare stretch of two games without recording a point, but notching two goals and an assist on Tuesday, moving him to a team-high 25 goals and 61 points through 49 games.
Scheifele remains on the short list of players under consideration as an injury replacement for Team Canada and he’ll be facing another one of those players in this one in Sam Bennett.
The last time Scheifele and the Jets hosted the Panthers last November, the Jets’ No. 1 centre notched his ninth career hat trick, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him involved offensively in this game.
Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey also delivered a three-point game to push him to 10 goals and 42 points in 49 games, impressive totals when you consider how strong his two-way game has been.
Sticking with the defence, this is another important game for Salomonsson as he returns to the lineup after missing two contests with an illness.
As Arniel mentioned, the Panthers are going to play a heavy game, no matter who is missing from the lineup, so Salmonsson has another opportunity to show he can handle Top-4 minutes here against the two-time defending champions.
Bringing Koepke back into the lineup makes a lot of sense, given his speed and physical presence.
Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Koepke (Matt Slocum / The Associated Press files)
As for the Panthers, Sam Reinhart is having another fantastic season, leading his team with 24 goals and 47 points.
He’s produced eight goals and 18 points in 18 career games against the Jets with the Panthers and Buffalo Sabres, so you can be sure his number will be circled on the board when Winnipeg does its pre-scout.
Former Jets head coach Paul Maurice was thoughtful as he tackled a number of different topics during his question-and-answer period with the media and he will be the subject of my pre-game story.
Maurice was able to watch his daughter, Sydney, coach a game for the St. Mary’s Flames women’s hockey team on Tuesday after the Panthers got to town and he was bursting with pride when discussing the experience.
He also weighed in on Dustin Byfuglien committing to suit up in the alumni game that will be part of the 2026 Heritage Classic in October.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
- Perfetti-Toews-Vilardi
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Namestnikov
- Koepke-Barron-Pearson
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Salomonsson
- Stanley-Schenn
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: F Nyquist, F Zhilkin, D Phillips
INJURED: D Fleury (nose, back), D Miller (lower-body), D Pionk (lower-body)
FLORIDA PANTHERS
FORWARDS:
- Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk
- Luostarinen-Lundell-Reinhart
- Greer-Rodrigues-Samoskevich
- Vilmanis-Schwindt-Kunin
DEFENCE:
- Forsling-Ekblad
- Mikkola-Balinskis
- Bjornfot-Petry
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Sebrango, F Boqvist
INJURED: D Jones (upper body), D Kulikov (upper body), C Barkov (knee), LW Marchand (undisclosed), F Nosek (knee), F Gadjovich (upper body)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on his club’s growing sense of confidence after following up an 11-game winless streak with a 5-1-1 run:
“I think once we got that win finally to break that streak of losses, the belief now is back in there again and we’re feeling good and making plays and doing the right things. The other side is not that we weren’t doing it before, but you’re really seeing the shot blocking, taking a hit to make a play, all those little things you need to do to have success and win hockey games. There’s desperation in our game now. We knew we were going to have to put a real push on here, and our last seven games have been really good. We need to continue. Every night we need points. Continue with the confidence on how we’re doing things and go get results.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken caught up with former Jets coach Paul Maurice following Florida’s morning skate and will have a story coming up.
Mike will handle game analysis of Jets vs. Panthers.
You can find both pieces in Friday’s print edition and online.
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