GAMEDAY: Panthers at Jets

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets return home Tuesday night looking to snap a five-game winless streak when they welcome the Florida Panthers to Canada Life Centre for their final home game of October.

Winnipeg is coming off a 2-1 loss to Montreal in Sunday’s Heritage Classic and has dropped each of its last five games by a single goal.

The continuing story for the Jets is their inability to generate enough offence. Winnipeg fired 34 shots at Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler on Sunday but managed to beat him just once, with Isak Rosén scoring the lone goal. Most of the quality scoring chances once again came from the Mark Scheifele line.

“I thought the Lowry line, there were some moments there in the second and the third. They obviously scored the goal, and yeah, we need secondary (scoring). We need other people stepping up, and it makes it hard if all the heat's on Scheif's line to try to do that,” said head coach Scott Arniel following Sunday's game.

“So, that's part of that. The mindset of our players that, like I just talked about, you got to get to the net. You got to go get greasy goals, something that bounces off your skate or your foot or your back, whatever it is. You know, we got to get inside.”

The Jets have now lost five consecutive games by a single goal and own a 3-3-3 record in one-goal games. No other team in the NHL had played more one-goal games this season entering Monday's action.

Another area of concern is the power play, which has failed to capitalize in each of the last four games, going 0-for-12 over that stretch, including an 0-for-4 performance against Montreal.

“Yeah, obviously, we had a ton of chances last game, and the goalie made some big saves in big moments. So, you know, we got to be better. We're relied on to produce in those moments, especially those big moments at the end,” said Mark Scheifele.

“So, we as much as the next person want to put some goals up there on the power play as well.”

Tuesday's game will be a special one for Dawson Mercer, who will make his Canada Life Centre debut on his 25th birthday. Mercer has played twice on his birthday previously and recorded two assists in 2024, but he is still looking for his first birthday goal.

There have been 25 players in franchise history to score on their birthday, with Kyle Connor leading the way with three birthday goals.

Mercer will start the night alongside Viggo Björck and Al Iafallo, while Gabriel Vilardi joins Adam Lowry and Isak Rosén on the Jets' middle-six group against the Panthers. Those are the same combinations Scott Arniel used in the third period on Sunday, and they seemed to find a bit of a spark.

Tyrell Bauer will also return to the lineup, providing a physical presence against a Panthers team known for its hard-nosed style of play.

“Yeah, for me, it doesn't change. My game's the same. Hard, heavy, simple, and hopefully often,” said Bauer.

“Gonna go out there and try to help my team get to two points and play my game. I know what that is. They know what they expect from me, that doesn't change for me.”

Clay Stevenson will get the start in goal, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.08 goals against average. He has never faced the Panthers in his NHL career.

Winnipeg posted a 1-0-1 record against Florida last season. The Jets are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games against the Panthers and 3-1-1 in their last five meetings. Winnipeg has also earned at least a point in each of its last four home games against Florida at Canada Life Centre, posting a 3-0-1 record over that stretch.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.