The Florida Panthers visit the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with the Jets trying to snap a five-game losing streak and the Panthers looking to build on consecutive wins. This Panthers vs Jets preview comes with both teams dealing with significant injury trouble up front, making it a matchup of depth as much as talent.
Florida sits at 6-4-2 and sixth in the Atlantic Division with 14 points, while Winnipeg is 4-4-3 and last in the Central Division with 11 points. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.
Florida Panthers Vs Winnipeg Jets Game Information
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 27
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, Scripps Sports
Can The Jets Stop The Bleeding?
Winnipeg has dropped five straight games, including three one-goal losses and two that went to overtime. The Jets fell 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 25 and have scored two goals or fewer in four of those five games. Winnipeg ranks last in the Central with 11 points despite four wins, a sign that close games have not gone its way.
The Jets have allowed 31 goals on the season against an average of 2.82 per game, while their save percentage sits at .906. Stuart Skinner is projected as the probable starting goalie for Tuesday.
Have The Panthers Found Their Game Again?
Florida has won three of its last five, including a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 25 decided by a late Carter Verhaeghe-less goal credited to Anton Lundell’s linemate. That followed an 8-3 blowout of the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 17 but also a pair of lopsided losses, a 5-1 defeat to the Ottawa Senators and a 4-0 shutout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Florida leads the season series in offense by a wide margin, with 34 goals scored compared to Winnipeg’s 27, and the Panthers hold a 9.9% shooting percentage against the Jets’ 9.0%. Akira Schmid is projected as the probable starting goalie for Florida.
How Banged Up Are Both Rosters?
Florida is without four regulars on injured reserve. Center Aleksander Barkov (left lower body) is not expected back until Nov. 27, left wing Brad Marchand (left leg) has a target return of Nov. 21, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (upper body) is projected to return Nov. 4. Left wing Jonah Gadjovich, recovering from upper body surgery, is not expected back until Nov. 28.
Winnipeg has its own list. Defenseman Josh Morrissey (right wrist) has a projected return of Nov. 5, while center Vladislav Namestnikov is targeting Nov. 3 with an undisclosed injury. Center Nick Bjugstad, who had left pectoral surgery, is not expected back until March 11, and center Garrett Brown (lower body) has a projected return of Oct. 30, meaning he could be close to rejoining the lineup after Tuesday.
By The Numbers
- Goals: Florida 34, Winnipeg 27
- Points: Florida 89, Winnipeg 69
- Shots on goal: Florida 342, Winnipeg 299
- Shooting percentage: Florida 9.9%, Winnipeg 9.0%
- Save percentage: Florida .882, Winnipeg .906
- Goals against average: Florida 3.00, Winnipeg 2.82
- Power play goals: Florida 11, Winnipeg 6
- Penalty minutes: Florida 181, Winnipeg 75
- Faceoff percentage: Florida 46.0%, Winnipeg 45.4%
Key Matchup: Florida’s Offense Against Winnipeg’s Shaky Defense
Florida has outscored Winnipeg 34-27 in total goals this season and carries a higher shooting percentage, 9.9% to 9.0%. The Panthers also hold a clear edge on special teams with 11 power play goals compared to Winnipeg’s six. Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 16 points and 12 assists, and his ability to set up plays on the man advantage could matter against a Jets penalty kill that has already allowed goals at a notable rate this season.
Winnipeg’s defense has given up 321 shots against while posting a .906 save percentage, numbers that suggest the Jets have generally kept Stuart Skinner or his backup busy but not overwhelmed. Still, with Winnipeg losing five straight largely in low-scoring games, how the Jets handle Florida’s power play and forecheck will go a long way toward determining whether the losing streak continues.
Players To Watch
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
Tkachuk leads Florida in points (16) and assists (12) this season. His playmaking has been a steady source of offense even as the Panthers have dealt with absences from Barkov and Marchand up front.
Kyle Connor, Jets
Connor paces Winnipeg with nine goals and 12 points. With the Jets mired in a five-game skid, his production has been one of the few consistent bright spots offensively.
Brady Tkachuk, Panthers
Brady Tkachuk leads Florida with seven goals. His physical style has been a factor in several of the Panthers’ recent wins, including the comeback effort against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 15.
What To Watch
Winnipeg enters near the bottom of the Central Division standings and will be looking for its first win since Oct. 15 against the Blackhawks. Florida, despite its own inconsistency, has shown it can score in bunches, as its 8-3 win over Seattle demonstrated. Both projected starting goalies, Schmid for Florida and Skinner for Winnipeg, will need to shore up defenses that have each allowed more than 30 goals this season.
The season series between these two teams begins with Tuesday’s game. Florida’s next scheduled matchup and Winnipeg’s path out of its current slide will both come into sharper focus depending on how this one plays out.
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