The Winnipeg Jets head into an 8 p.m. ET matchup against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center, bringing a 4-3-2 record into the contest while the Stars enter at 5-3-1. Both squads are managing key lineup adjustments, injuries, and roster decisions as they prepare for the prime-time broadcast airing on KDFW 4, Prime Video, and TSN3.
For Winnipeg, forward Brayden Yager is slated to make his season debut. Yager was recalled Monday from Manitoba of the American Hockey League and slotted into the third line alongside Isak Rosen and Adam Lowry. The Jets’ top line features Kyle Connor centering Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti, followed by a second unit of Alex Iafallo, Viggo Bjorck, and Gabriel Vilardi. The fourth line rounds out with Nino Niederreiter, Morgan Barron, and Brad Lambert.
On the blue line, the Jets’ defensive pairings feature Dylan Samberg paired with Neal Pionk, Mario Ferraro skating with Dylan DeMelo, and Haydn Fleury alongside Tyrel Bauer. Stuart Skinner is projected to get the start in goal, backed by Clay Stevenson. Winnipeg enters the matchup dealing with a couple of notable absences on the injury report, with defenseman Josh Morrissey sidelined by an upper-body injury and forward Vladislav Namestnikov out with an undisclosed issue. Jack St. Ivany and Cole Koepke are listed as scratched, with Koepke facing a likely healthy scratch after logging 9:45 of ice time in a 2-1 road loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
Across the ice, the Dallas Stars have organized their forward combinations starting with Jason Robertson centering Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin on the top unit. Sam Steel centers a second line flanked by Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen, while the third line features Justin Hryckowian, Arttu Hyry, and Jamie Benn. The fourth unit brings together Joel Kiviranta, Radek Faksa, and Colin Blackwell.
Dallas’s defense pairs Thomas Harley with Miro Heiskanen on the top pairing, followed by Lian Bichsel and Nils Lundkvist, and Kyle Capobianco alongside Tyler Myers. Jake Oettinger is projected to start between the pipes for the Stars. Casey DeSmith did not participate in the team’s morning skate due to an illness, but he is expected to dress and serve as the backup goaltender.
The Stars are also managing several health concerns of their own. Oskar Bäck is out with a finger injury, Matt Duchene is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and Esa Lindell is unavailable due to a lower-body issue. Additionally, forward David Perron has been practicing with the team since Monday, but Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan indicated that the coaching staff wants to give him more time before inserting him back into the active lineup.
