Music: {allcanada} MAPLE LEAFS (21-15-3) at JETS (19-12-7)

Friday, January 2, 2015

{allcanada} MAPLE LEAFS (21-15-3) at JETS (19-12-7)

The Godfather Part II: The Coppola Restoration

Saturday, January 3, 2015

7:00 PM ET

MAPLE LEAFS (21-15-3) at JETS (19-12-7)

TV: CBC, NHLN-US

Season series: The Winnipeg Jets won both games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013-14, the most recent meeting a 4-2 win at Air Canada Centre on April 5. Jets right wing Blake Wheeler had a goal and three assists in two games against Toronto last season. Jets captain Andrew Ladd had four assists in two games. Winnipeg is 6-2-1 against Toronto since the beginning of the 2011-12 season.

Maple Leafs team scope: The Maple Leafs will end their season-high seven-game road trip at Winnipeg after a 3-1 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Friday. Since a six-game winning streak ended Dec. 16, Toronto has lost six of its past eight games. Center Nazem Kadri (lower body) did not play at Minnesota and will not play Saturday. Center Peter Holland was also out against Minnesota, but right wing Richard Panik (concussion) returned after missing two games. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 26 saves Friday, and with the back-to-back, James Reimer will likely start against Winnipeg. Reimer had 38 saves in his most recent game, a 3-2 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 29. Forward Greg McKegg dressed Friday for his second NHL game after the Maple Leafs recalled him from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League on Thursday.

Jets team scope: The Jets have lost the first two games of their four-game homestand that concludes Monday against the San Jose Sharks. With left wing Evander Kane out (lower body), coach Paul Maurice shook up his third line at practice Friday. Left wing TJ Galiardi moved up to the third line with center Adam Lowry and right wing Matt Halischuk to replace Chris Thorburn. Maurice returned Thorburn to the fourth line, where he had played most of the season before Kane's injury. Injured defensemen Zach Bogosian, Toby Enstrom, Mark Stuart and Jacob Trouba skated Friday. Bogosian and Enstrom are out with lower-body injuries, but may return at some point in January, according to Maurice. Stuart (lower body) and Trouba (upper body) are not expected to return until February. Ladd had two goals in a 5-2 loss against the New York Islanders on Wednesday and leads the Jets with 29 points. Ladd is tied with center Bryan Little for the team lead in goals with 14. Goaltender Michael Hutchinson is the likely starter Saturday.