Jets at Blues preview

JETS (0-0-0) at BLUES (0-0-0)
8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, TSN3, NHL.TV

The Game

Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Bozak and Pat Maroon each will debut for the St. Louis Blues against the Winnipeg Jets at Enterprise Center on Thursday.
O'Reilly, a center, was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1. Bozak, a center, signed a three-year, $15 million contract (average annual value $5 million) on July 1. Maroon, a forward and St. Louis native, signed a one year, $1.75 million contract July 10.
Forward David Perron will begin his third stint with the Blues after signing a four-year, $16 million contract (AAV $4 million) on July 1.
The Jets will play their first game since losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Western Conference Final last season.
Forward Kristian Vesalainen, the No. 24 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, will make his NHL debut for Winnipeg.

Players to watch

Jets forward Blake Wheeler has 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 27 games against St. Louis.
Blues center Robert Thomas, the No. 20 pick in the 2017 draft, and forward Jordan Kyrou, a second-round pick (No. 35) in 2016, each will play his first NHL game.

They said it

"Where we're at, it's that expectation to take that next step from last year. I don't think anybody has a problem with it. Everybody's looking forward to it and ready to go here." -- Jets forward Kyle Connor
"I'm excited to get going with this group of guys in this locker room. That makes it more special for me going out there and putting on the [Blues] jersey." -- Blues forward Pat Maroon

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault -- Bryan Little -- Patrik Laine
Kristian Vesalainen -- Jack Roslovic -- Nikolaj Ehlers
Andrew Copp -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot -- Dustin Byfuglien
Joe Morrow -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched: Marko Dano, Dmitry Kulikov, Brendan Lemieux, Nic Petan
Injured:None

Blues projected lineup

Pat Maroon -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Jaden Schwartz -- Brayden Schenn -- Jordan Kyrou
Alexander Steen -- Tyler Bozak -- David Perron
Ivan Barbashev -- Robert Thomas -- Sammy Blais
Jay Bouwmeester -- Alex Pietrangelo
Vince Dunn -- Colton Parayko
Chris Butler -- Jordan Schmaltz
Jake Allen
Chad Johnson
Scratched: Niko Mikkola
Injured: Joel Edmundson (groin), Robby Fabbri (groin), Carl Gunnarsson (knee, hip), Nikita Soshnikov (concussion)
Suspended:Robert Bortuzzo

Status report

Petan is not with the Jets because of the death of his father. ... Edmundson and Fabbri were on the ice before the morning skate but will not play. … Bortuzzo is eligible to return Saturday.

Stat pack

Hellebuyck, a Vezina Award finalist last season, is 4-2-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage and three shutouts in six games against St. Louis. ... Blues coach Mike Yeo is 5-0-1 in season openers.