The (19-15-5) Winnipeg Jets are back on the ice and on TSN 1290 tonight as they continue a four-game road trip in Toronto against the (19-15-5) Maple Leafs.
TSN 1290's coverage begins with Hustler & Lawless at 3:00. Rick Ralph hosts the official Jets pregame show at 5:00. Color Analyst Shane Hnidy joins me in the Air Canada Center broadcast booth at 6:00 for the play-by-play.
Head coach Claude Noel could not confirm his roster for tonight's game as a couple players are battling the flu and/or minor injuries from last night's loss in Montreal.
The Jets have recalled forward Patrice Cormier from the AHL's St. John's IceCaps. The 21-year-old played two games for the Jets already this season. In 29 AHL games this season, Cormier has nine goals and four assists.
Chris Mason was the first goaltender off the ice following an optional pregame skate, so expect him to start in goal. Mason has won his last four consecutive starts and has a 1.99 goals against average and .924 save percentage.
Blake Wheeler and Evander Kane enter this game tied for the Jets lead in points with 30. Wheeler is on a six-game point streak that includes four goals and five assists. Wheeler and Andrew Ladd are also on two-game goal scoring streaks.
Don't expect to see Bryan Little play tonight. He was one of the last players on the ice this morning, along with Derek Meech and Mark Flood. Little has missed the last seven games due to a lower-body injury.
Winnipeg has earned three of a possible four points in the first two games against Toronto.
Jonas Gustavsson starts in goal for the Leafs.
Winnipeg's Colton Orr was placed on waivers yesterday by Toronto and cleared today, meaning he will join the AHL's Marlies.
Tonight's expected Toronto roster:
Lupul-Connolly-Kessel
Crabb-Grabovski-Kulemin
MacArthur-Lombardi-Kadri
Boyce-Steckel-Frattin
Aulie-Phaneuf
Gunnarsson-Schenn
Gardiner-Franson
Following tonight's game, the Jets travel to Buffalo for Saturday's game against the Sabres.