GAMEDAY: Bruins at Jets

WINNIPEG – We’ve heard the same message from Winnipeg Jets coaches and players since the opening days of training camp: it was a long summer.

Well, summer is officially over.

The regular season finally arrives tonight, with the Jets opening their schedule on home ice against the Boston Bruins at Canada Life Centre (7 PM CT, TSN 3, 680 CJOB/Power 97).

“Yeah. Obviously, the shorter camp,” said Scott Arniel.

“Veterans only playing two exhibition games, you have to pile in a lot of stuff when it comes to sort of the details, systems and structure – all that stuff. So, felt we checked all those boxes.”

 This will be the third season for Arniel as head coach, he’s coached and played in numerous season openers and the excitement that comes with opening night never gets old.

“It’s kind of different that we’re sitting and watching all of these games here up until we play on Friday and then, it’s three (games) in four nights and four in six,” said Arniel.

“But opening night is always fun. It’s always exciting to get the season off and started.”

Winnipeg has two players preparing to play in their first NHL game, 2026 first-round selection Viggo Björck and 2020 sixth-round selection Tyrel Bauer. There have been 19 players in franchise history to record a goal in their NHL debut, with Parker Ford being the most recent (Jan. 30/25). For Josh Morrissey, entering his 11th full NHL season, that injection of youth and energy is more than welcome.

“There’s always new faces, and this year there’s a few more young faces, guys just kind of breaking into the league,” said Morrissey.

“So, it’s exciting. Those guys bring a ton of energy, and you can’t help sit next to a younger guy and remember your first few games and first full season and all that stuff.”

Björck admitted that the nerves will be there at puck drop.

“No, I’m definitely going to be a little bit nervous," said Björck.

"But I guess that’s normal. It’s a dream to play in the NHL and to get your debut game, it’s going  to be special.”

Bauer was supposed to play his first NHL games last season but injuries prevented that from happening. Tonight, he will realize his dream in front a large group of family and friends.

"Knowing that they’re coming just means the world to me. There’s been times when you’ve needed a lot of support, and those are the people that have always been there for me," said Bauer.

"They support you no matter, even when sometimes you don’t believe in yourself. They do. So to be able to look up and see them today is going to be cool."

The Jets will open their season at Canada Life Centre for the second consecutive season and third time in the last five seasons. They hold an all-time record of 25-14-4 in their home openers, with a points percentage of .500 or higher in all three iterations of the franchise.

It seems like everyone else has played at least one game since the season kicked off on Tuesday minus the Jets. The Bruins come into the Manitoba capital having won their opener 3-0 over the New York Rangers.

“Knowing Boston's already played one, the attention to detail, I think — you're watching some of the early games. You still see some of the mistakes, some of the rust, and it's about getting up to speed,” said Adam Lowry.

“It's about limiting those mistakes. Execution as much as we can and playing fast. That's gonna be something we want to focus on all year. Boston's a good team.”

There is no question the value that a healthy Lowry will bring to the Jets this season. He entered the 2024-25 season recovering from hip surgery, returned to the lineup in November and it took him awhile to get up to speed. He skates into this campaign healthy and ready to go.

“I had a good summer, putting a lot of work, and I'm looking forward to getting back out there and feeling like myself. I still feel like a kid at heart,” said Lowry.

“I get to play the sport I love for a living. So, but yeah, it's crazy to think that I've been in the league. This is coming into my 13th season, my 14th year pro, and Viggo was four at the time.”

Last season, Kyle Connor extended his NHL record goal streak in opening games to eight consecutive seasons. He has a chance to further extend his record on Friday night, looking to find the back of the net in his ninth consecutive season opening game.