Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-2, 18 points, 1st place Metropolitan Division) @ Winnipeg Jets (8-3-0, 16 points, 2nd place Central Division)
When: 3:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Broadcast in the local market
on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, TSN3 in Canada, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: This road trip wraps up Monday with a 7:30 p.m. ET game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Pens then get two days off before returning home for a Thursday night matchup with Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Opponent Track: The Jets and the Penguins are two of the seven teams in the NHL heading into Saturday with eight wins this season. Winnipeg got there thanks to a 5-1 start to the season, and they’re coming in to tonight’s matchup after another set of back-to-back wins.
Season Series: The Pens won’t see this Jets team again until March 21, when Winnipeg makes the trip to PPG Paints Arena.
Hidden Stat: The Penguins just closed out one of the best Octobers in franchise history. The team has only topped eight wins this month in 2009 and 2013, per Penguins PR.
Getting to know the Jets
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi
Vladislav Namestnikov – Jonathan Toews – Alex Iafallo
Nino Niederreiter – Morgan Barron – Tanner Pearson
Cole Koepke – Parker Ford – Brad Lambert
DEFENSEMEN
Josh Morrissey / Dylan DeMelo
Logan Stanley / Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury / Luke Schenn
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck, Eric Comrie
Potential scratches: Gustav Nyquist
Injured reserve: Adam Lowry, Dylan Samberg, Cole Perfetti
- Jets winger Gustav Nyquist “tweaked something” during Thursday’s win over the Chicago Blackhawks, head coach Scott Arniel told reporters. He is now sidelined with a day-to-day injury and won’t play against the Pens tonight.
- The Jets’ top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi has been on the ice for 11 even-strength goals so far this season. That’s tied for the most in the NHL heading into Friday, per MoneyPuck. (The Pens’ Big Line of Brazeau, Malkin and Mantha is tied for second after being on the ice for nine).
Season stats
via hockeydb
- Scheifele went into Friday ranked second only to the Vegas Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel for the NHL points lead with 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) through the first 11 games of the season.
- Vilardi, who scored twice Thursday night against the Blackhawks, is also playing at a point-per-game pace (4-7—11). The Jets would love to see a breakout campaign from him after three straight 20-goal seasons led to his six-year extension in July.
- Former Chicago Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews made his comeback this season after missing the entirety of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns. He’s so far recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in what has so far been an impressive return as the Jets’ second-line center and a member of the second power-play unit.
- Reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck is once more off to a dominant start to his 11th NHL season. He’s so far posted a .921 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average, and the Jets boast a 6-3-0 record in his nine starts.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Filip Hallander – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Evgeni Malkin – Justin Brazeau (0r Philip Tomasino, if necessary)
Tommy Novak – Ben Kindel – Ville Koivunen
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Owen Pickering / Harrison Brunicke
Goalies: Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs
Potential Scratches: Philip Tomasino, Matt Dumba, Connor Clifton
IR: Kevin Hayes (upper body), Jack St. Ivany (lower body), Rutger McGroarty (upper body), Joel Blomqvist (lower body), Rickard Rakell (hand, out 6-8 weeks), Caleb Jones (lower body, out 6-8 weeks)
- Justin Brazeau wasn’t on the ice for Friday’s practice, and Philip Tomasino took his place on the second line. The good news is, NHL media reports that was just maintenance. That will come as a major relief given that Brazeau’s six goals in 12 games have been a key part of the Penguins’ hot start to the season, and that the Pens are already short one top-six forward after losing Rickard Rakell to injury.
- Harrison Brunicke got another shot at swapping in for Matt Dumba alongside Owen Pickering on the bottom pairing.
- Based on the goalie rotation that has formed this season it would be Arturs Silovs’ game in net should that continue.
