Bruins vs. Jets: Can Skinner win his huge 1st Jets start?
Stuart Skinner is in line for his first regular-season start as the Winnipeg Jets’ new No. 1 goalie when the Boston Bruins visit Canada Life Centre on Friday, Oct. 2. Bruins vs. Jets is an 8 p.m. ET puck drop, and it is Winnipeg’s season opener after an offseason dominated by Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request.
Boston brings a 1-0-0 record into Bruins vs. Jets after shutting out the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Bruins vs. Jets game information
- Date: Friday, Oct. 2
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (U.S. national), NESN (Boston)
- Records: Bruins 1-0-0, Jets 0-0-0
Is Skinner ready to carry Winnipeg’s crease?
Skinner signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Winnipeg on July 1. His role grew in late August, when Hellebuyck went public with a trade request after the Jets’ 35-35-12 season. Hellebuyck was then suspended indefinitely for not reporting to training camp, The Canadian Press reported via TSN. ESPN’s injury report lists Oct. 17 as his projected return date.
The 27-year-old Edmonton native has a 121-71-23 career record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. He helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025 before Edmonton traded him to Pittsburgh in December 2025, a move we covered when Skinner forced the Penguins to rethink their crease.
His Jets debut went well. Skinner stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 preseason win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sept. 22, and the home crowd answered with “Stuuu” chants.
“I can definitely take on a high load if that’s what’s needed,” Skinner said, according to TSN. “I love playing as many games as I can possibly play.”
How did Boston look in its 3-0 opener?
Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves for the shutout against the Rangers, according to the ESPN box score. Fraser Minten scored once and added an assist, while Mark Kastelic and JJ Peterka also scored.
That start followed a 2-2 preseason. Boston beat Washington 3-2 and Philadelphia 5-1 at home, then lost 2-0 at Philadelphia and 3-2 at Washington.
The Bruins are still short two regulars. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy is serving a suspension with a projected return of Oct. 13, and center Matthew Poitras is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and a projected return of Oct. 5, per ESPN.
Which Jets injuries matter most?
Winnipeg’s blue line for Bruins vs. Jets is missing Elias Salomonsson, who is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and a projected return of Oct. 15. Right wing Walker Duehr (lower body) is not projected back until Oct. 17. Center Garrett Brown is also on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, though ESPN lists Friday as his projected return date.
The Jets went 1-3 in the preseason. The Colorado win was their only victory, sandwiched between two losses to Edmonton and followed by a 5-2 loss at Colorado on Sept. 26.
Where could the Bruins vs. Jets game be decided?
The goalie matchup gets the headlines, but Boston’s forward depth against a Winnipeg defense without Salomonsson may matter more. Minten’s two-point night gave the Bruins scoring beyond their top line, and a heavy shot volume would put Skinner’s workload claim to an early test.
Skinner has already won over the room. “He’s just a great guy. Works hard,” center Mark Scheifele told TSN. “We’re just excited to keep getting to know him.”
Boston is one of several Atlantic Division teams with two points after the first nights of the season, while Winnipeg is looking for its first points. After Bruins vs. Jets, Boston plays again Saturday in Minnesota, and Winnipeg visits Detroit on Sunday. For more opening-week news, visit our NHL news page.