Game 2: Winnipeg Jets vs Florida Panthers pre-game report

The reigning Eastern Conference champion Panthers with former Jets coach Paul Maurice got to town looking for their first win of the season after they dropped their first game of the season to the Wild in Minnesota on Thursday night.

Skate news:

With it being an afternoon matinee no morning skate. Expectation is lines and D pairs will be the same as they were on Friday.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Ehlers-Perfetti-Niederreiter
Iafallo-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Kupari-Namestnikov

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Dillon-Schmidt

Hellebuyck
Brossoit

Betway Odds:

The Jets and Panthers are both coming off a season opening loss in which both teams felt they deserved a better fate controlling the play but running into a hot opposing goalie. Now they will look to pick up their first points to get their season started with a win and two points. The experts have the home side as slight favourites. Be sure to check out the latest game day odds from Betway.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 3 pm CDT.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interview from head coach Rick Bowness.

You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show. (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.

Recent Posts

Winnipeg Jets Afternoon Links

Getting you set up for tonight’s Jets game.

31 minutes ago

Neal Pionk takes next step at Winnipeg Jets morning skate, weekend return possible

He's closing in on his first game since January 13th.

2 hours ago

First media availability with Winnipeg Jets prospect Alfons Freij after first skate with the Moose

The 2024 2nd rounder is in Winnipeg where he'll spend the rest of the season…

3 hours ago

Game 68: Winnipeg Jets vs Boston Bruins pre-game report

A look at the projected lineups and pre-game interviews.

6 hours ago

Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers: Today’s Hockey Headlines | Mar 19, 2026

A daily roundup of Jets, Moose coverage — all the pro hockey news that matters…

9 hours ago