Jets at Canucks preview

JETS (1-2-0) at CANUCKS (1-0-1)
10 p.m. ET; SNV, TSN3, NHL.TV

Steve Mason, who signed a two-year, $8.2-million contract with the Jets on July 1, started the first two games and allowed 11 goals on 65 shots. Hellebuyck made 37 saves in a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien took part in the morning skate Thursday but will miss a second straight game because of a lower-body injury.
Canucks rookie right wing Brock Boeser will make his season debut on the top line and see time on the second power play after sitting out the first two games. He led the Canucks in scoring during the preseason with seven points (four goals, three assists).

Players to watch

Nikolaj Ehlers had a natural hat trick and an assist against the Oilers, combining with linemates Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler for 10 points (four goals, six assists).
Jacob Markstrom will make his third straight start. He is 1-0-1 with a .948 save percentage in his first chance to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL.

They said it

"I didn't think [Hellebuyck] was lucky in the game against Edmonton. I thought he was really solid, and he did a lot of work this summer on his physical strength so he looks stronger in the net, he is able to hold his body position quite a bit longer in the net. There is not nearly as much movement in his game. I liked the way the group played so it was a pretty easy decision." - Jets coach Paul Maurice on the decision to give goalie Connor Hellebuyck a second straight start
"To start saying he's one of our purest goal scorers, it's a little bit early for that. But I think he has the potential to become that for sure." -- Canucks coach Travis Green on forward Brock Boeser

Jets projected lineup

Nikolaj Ehlers -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault -- Bryan Little -- Patrik Laine
Shawn Matthias -- Adam Lowry -- Nic Petan
Brandon Tanev -- Andrew Copp -- Marko Dano
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Toby Enstrom -- Tucker Poolman
Dmitry Kulikov -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Steve Mason
Scratched: Ben Chiarot, Joel Armia
Injured:Dustin Byfuglien (lower body), Matt Hendricks (foot)

Canucks projected lineup

Sven Baertschi -- Bo Horvat -- Brock Boeser
Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Thomas Vanek
Loui Eriksson -- Sam Gagner -- Jake Virtanen
Markus Granlund -- Brandon Sutter -- Derek Dorsett
Alexander Edler -- Chris Tanev
Michael Del Zotto -- Erik Gudbranson
Ben Hutton -- Troy Stecher
Jacob Markstrom
Anders Nilsson
Scratched:Alexander Burmistrov, Alex Biega, Derrick Pouliot
Injured:None

Status report

Maurice said Byfuglien might be ready to play against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. … Eriksson was shifted from the first to the third line and Burmistrov will be scratched to make room for Boeser, who had four goals in nine games late last season playing primarily with Horvat and Baertschi.

Stat pack

The Jets have been on the power play for 27:51 and the penalty kill for 19:48 this season, a difference of 8:03 that is tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for the second-best differential in the NHL. The Ottawa Senators are first at plus-12:41. … The Canucks are 1-for-11 on the power play.