Line Combinations: Jets vs. Devils
The 49-19-4 Winnipeg Jets are set to host the 38-28-7 New Jersey Devils from snowy Manitoba on Friday night.
Doused with 15 centimetres of snow over the past 24 hours, Winnipeg's Canada Life Centre will host the first game of the season that truly doesn't matter for the Jets' initial playoff chances.
We say 'initial' because every game matter in terms of final standings, finishing placements and season series', but as of Winnipeg's 3-2 overtime victory on Tuesday, the Jets are in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Advertisement
They enter the night one point behind Washington for first overall, while having played the same amount of games as the Capitals.
But more concerning for the Jets are the red-hot Dallas Stars who sit just four points behind Winnipeg, as well as the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, who have combined for a 27-3-3 record in their last 33 games played, combined.
With injuries to Gabe Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari, Alex Iafallo has positioned himself on the top line, while David Gustafsson draws back into the fold on the fourth grouping. The second and third lines have see some adjustments as well. Logan Stanley continues to dress on the blueline over Haydn Fleury.
Connor Hellebuyck will get the nod between the pipes as the Jets look to become the first team to hit 50 wins on the season.
Advertisement
Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Friday, March 28 vs. New Jersey:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Ehlers-Lowry-Appleton
Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Gustafsson-Barron-Tanev
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Schenn
Stanley-Miller
Hellebuyck
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Jets Ranked Surprisingly High as Team to Snap Playoff Woes in 2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Every season, there is always hype behind the New York Jets. The hype they experienced last time was due to Aaron Rodgers taking over as quarterback. However, a torn Achilles ended the team's hopeful 2023 season. More news: 5 Best Landing Spots for Jaire Alexander After Shocking Release by Packers The 2024 season rolled around, and Rodgers' full and healthy return did not spark any additional comeback. The Jets finished the season 5-12 and continued their streak of not making the playoffs to a staggering 14 straight seasons. Though the belief is that the Jets' luck would finally kick in at some point, the organization has simply not been able to turn things around. Despite the team continually underperforming, they have been given a huge ranking in terms of teams that can snap their playoff drought woes. FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 27: New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is introduced to the media at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on January 27, 2025 in Florham Park, New Jersey. FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 27: New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is introduced to the media at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on January 27, 2025 in Florham Park, New Jersey. More news: Bengals Shockingly Release Top 10 Defender Jeremy Bergman has ranked the Jets as being the third-best in terms of odds for teams that can make the playoffs in the 2025 season. "Will wholesale changes in the front office, on the coaching staff, and under center spell a turnaround for Gang Green in 2025? Darren Mougey, Aaron Glenn, and Justin Fields benefit from a roster with cheap, young talent (Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall) that was built to succeed with Rodgers. Plus, the AFC East ain't what it was, with Miami in purgatory and a new regime in New England. The Jets' .460 strength of schedule is 26th in the league," Bergman writes. There is some value to what Bergman is proposing, with one big aspect of this projection coming from the AFC East. The Jets might have a far better shot at competing now that the Buffalo Bills are the only team standing in their way in terms of overall skill level. The Miami Dolphins have many unanswered questions in terms of their overall roster. Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is about to be traded leaving the secondary severely lacking, and tight end Jonnu Smith might also join Ramsey on a new team, as the disgruntled playmaker is seeking a contract that will pay him higher than $4 million in 2025. With so many roster issues, the Dolphins might struggle mightily in 2025. The New England Patriots are also a question mark. Granted, they have a wonderful new head coach in Mike Vrabel, but this is his first time helming the team that once won a Super Bowl. There is no telling how the Patriots' new coaching staff will answer the challenge of rebounding a team that also had a paltry 4-12 record. The Jets should be spoken about in the same light as the Patriots, as Aaron Glenn has come over from the Detroit Lions and is set to try and turn the organization around. However, New York might have found itself a huge steal in landing Justin Fields. Fields went 4-2 while running the offense for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. He was replaced by Russell Wilson, who took over and led the team to a playoff berth and a first-round exit. Still, while Mike Tomlin chose to use Wilson, Fields proved that he can lead a team. The Jets also have some young and dynamic playmakers in Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Allen Lazard, and Mason Taylor. On paper, the Jets are a more improved team, but time will tell if they can truly climb out of the basement of the AFC. More NFL: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins to Attend Mini-Camp for Unexpected Reason For more on the Jets, head to Newsweek Sports.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Why Steelers were so confident Aaron Rodgers would sign in lengthy free agency saga
Aaron Rodgers' relationship with his new Steelers team had been growing behind the scenes for some time. When exploring the offseason dynamic between the ex-Jets quarterback and Pittsburgh brass in a new Sports Illustrated piece published Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer explained how the Steelers never felt Rodgers, 41, would get cold feet before both parties made their one-year pact official Saturday with a $13.65 million deal. 'There weren't regularly scheduled check-ins, but Rodgers would call Tomlin and Smith every now and again, which colors why the Steelers were never really concerned that Rodgers would back out on them,' Breer wrote. 4 Aaron Rodgers made his one-year pact with the Steelers official in June 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST 4 Steelers coach Mike Tomlin (l.) and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith (r.) in May 2025. AP Rodgers, coming off two unremarkable seasons with the Jets, had been targeted by the Steelers for much of the offseason. The four-time league MVP's name was originally floated when Pittsburgh 'went through initial end-of-season evaluations,' according to Breer, with the Steelers looking to move on from Russell Wilson, who started for much of the 10-7 season as Justin Fields served as the backup. Although Pittsburgh hoped to keep Fields, the former Bears first-round pick agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets as free agency began. 4 Aaron Rodgers spent the past two seasons with the Jets. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post As the quarterback dominoes continued to fall, Rodgers remained on the board, even after he visited the Steelers' facility in March. With the 2025 NFL Draft coming into view weeks later, speculation mounted as to whether Pittsburgh would take a quarterback early, a la Shedeur Sanders, or wait it out with Rodgers, who put football decisions on hold with someone close to him battling cancer. The Steelers, namely team president Art Rooney II, expressed in May that the team was willing to wait 'a little while longer' for Rodgers, with the lengthy saga coming to a close last week. 4 The Steelers are coming off a 10-7 season. AP 'Officially official,' the Steelers' Instagram account posted Saturday, sharing a photo of Rodgers wearing a curious band on his left ring finger as he put pen to paper. Rodgers signed days before the Steelers report to mandatory minicamp, which begins Tuesday. The quarterback appeared in 17 games for the Jets last season, throwing 28 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Rodgers will face his former Jets team in Week 1 when the Steelers visit MetLife Stadium.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' New Pass Rusher Haason Reddick Rusher Poised for Comeback Season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' New Pass Rusher Haason Reddick Rusher Poised for Comeback Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When then-free agent pass rusher Haason Reddick signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, there was a mixed bag of reactions. Advertisement After one season with the Jets, where Reddick sat out the first seven games of the year in response to a trade from the Eagles that he was not in favor of, the two-time Pro Bowler posted just one sack across 10 games. Many so-called "experts" labeled Reddick a problem. Because of his situation in New York, he may not have had the same looks he would have in free agency, but when he got to Tampa Bay, he immediately endeared himself to the fan base. And CBS Sports writer Garrett Podell believes he could be ready to have a big year in 2025. "Edge rusher Haason Reddick was one of the NFL's top sack artists from 2020 to 2023. His 50.5 sacks were the fourth-most in the league in that span," Podell wrote. "However, a contract dispute with the Philadelphia Eagles that turned into a trade to the New York Jets last season derailed Reddick's production. His holdout led to him not making his Jets debut in 2024 until Week 8, and he only registered one sack in New York's final 10 games of the season. Advertisement "That chipped away at the 30-year-old's ability to command a multiyear deal in free agency this offseason, which is why he settled for a one-year, $14 million deal with $12 million fully guaranteed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There's certainly a chance Reddick could return to stardom with a regular offseason in Tampa Bay this year. " At the time of his signing, Reddick issued a statement to Bucs fans at his press conference, and it went over well. "I'm excited. I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to be in front of the crowd. If anything, I can't wait to get in front of the Krewe," Reddick said. "I want to hear the cannon go off a lot this year. So, very excited. Hope the fans, hope the Krewe is excited as well. Looking forward to making this a great fit here." Related: Todd Bowles Names 4 Buccaneers Players Who Could Turn Into Coaches Related: Buccaneers' Bucky Irving Could Be Fantasy Football RB1 Material Next Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
