Lambert has played 63 games for Manitoba this season and he leads the team in points (54) and ranks third in goals (20). Chibrikov has played 69 games as a rookie for the Moose this season and recorded 46 points (17G, 29A) and 53 penalty minutes.
Jets head coach Rick Bowness was asked what he will say to the duo about their debut.
"Go out and enjoy it. You've worked your whole life to get here. Just enjoy the game. And we know they'll be excited, we know they'll be nervous," said Bowness.
"And again when they're playing that well down there they deserve a shot. But the most important thing is it's a game they're going to remember for the rest of their lives, and we want them to enjoy it."
Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Adam Lowry, Vladislav Namestnikov, Josh Morrissey and Brenden Dillon will not play this evening. Morgan Barron is out with a lower body injury sustained in the first period on Tuesday against Seattle. Lowry and Morrissey chose not to play in their 82nd game of the season. Sean Monahan (who will play game 83 tonight), Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton, Neal Pionk, Alex Iafallo and Dylan DeMelo will go the distance.
"Some of those guys, we asked them, do you want to play? And they said definitely," said Bowness.
"Then some of the other guys didn't want to play. So if they don't want to play, there's no sense putting them in because it's not going to work, they're not going to be engaged in the game. We're trying to keep the big picture in mind, making sure that we're ready to go when the playoffs start. "
So in comes Nate Schmidt, Colin Miller, Cole Perfetti, David Gustaffson and Rasmus Kupari. Kupari hasn't played since March 13.
"It's great. It's been awhile since I played my last game. That's why you do this job," said Kupari.
"Love to play games. So just try to enjoy every moment out there tonight."
Perfetti is obviously excited to return to the lineup and is enjoying the seven game win streak that the team is on right now.
"It's way better when you win. The mood in the room is better, the guys are a little bit happier, it's more fun coming to the rink," said Perfetti.
"Yeah, it's nice to be on a winning streak especially peaking at the right time going into the playoffs, I mean we're playing really well. Couple of statement wins and a lot of tough wins on that road trip. We're really happy with where we are at right now."
The Jets enter their regular season finale as the only team with less than 200 goals against in 2023-24 (197 GA, including shootout-deciding goals). If they allow two or fewer Thursday (vs. a top-10 team in goals scored), Connor Hellebuyck will secure outright the club's first William M. Jennings Trophy.
