GAMEDAY: Jets vs Senators (Preseason Game 2)

WINNIPEG -While Sunday's roster in Edmonton was on the younger side, the Winnipeg Jets roster taking the ice tonight at Canada Life Centre against the Ottawa Senators has far more of a veteran look to it.
Tonight's line-up includes leading scorer from last season - and reigning Lady Byng Trophy winner - Kyle Connor, alongside the two players he's skated with all training camp: Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers.
And that's just one line.
Blake Wheeler, Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Brenden Dillon, Adam Lowry, and Connor Hellebuyck are also listed on the roster.
"We've got to get some veterans in the game now," said head coach Rick Bowness, citing the six-game preseason schedule doesn't leave much time to prepare for the season opener. "When we get down to the last three games, you'll see more of probably what the line-up could look like on opening night. We have to get through these first three games, get everybody in as much as we can, and then when we get down to that last week we have to bear down more on line combinations."

Speaking of those combinations, Connor can't recall a time he's skated with both Scheifele and Ehlers, though there have been times he's played with them individually.
Tonight will be all about building the chemistry the three have had in training camp, as well as getting a feel for those five-on-five systems the Jets have worked on so much.
"Everything's new, pretty much," Connor said. "We try to have scrimmages and practise as much as we can. But once the game situation, it'll be good for a lot of us who haven't played yet to get in a game and work out those kinks."

Based on the morning skate, the Jets line-up is expected to look like this:
Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers
Perfetti-Lowry-Wheeler
Maenalanen-Toninato-Eyssimont
Limoges-Nikkanen-Torgersson
Morrissey-Lundmark
Samberg-Pionk
Dillon-Heinola
Tuesday's preseason home opener may be the first game action for some veterans, but it's also an opportunity for young players looking to establish themselves.
Cole Perfetti will see his second action of the preseason as he works his way back from injuries that ended his 2021-22 campaign.

Mikey Eyssimont and Saku Maenalanen also impressed the coaching staff enough in Edmonton to earn another game.
"Was he scheduled to play tonight? No. But he played really well in Edmonton," Bowness said of Maenalanen, who is trying to return to the NHL after spending the last three seasons in Finland.
"It probably helped him to go back to Europe. Sometimes they come over early and they don't feel comfortable," said Bowness. "We liked what we saw. Now, his minutes were low because he didn't kill penalties or play power play. So tonight we're going to try and bump up his minutes and get him on the penalty kill."
The Jets came up empty on four power play chances in Edmonton on Sunday, but did kill off the three power plays Edmonton had as well.
Special teams hasn't been the focus of camp as of yet, but those days are coming.
"Today was the first day that we really got into it," said Bowness. "After the game against Edmonton here Saturday night, we'll have three days of practice before the next game. We're really going to focus in on three-on-three, four-on-four, face-offs, six-on-five, five-on-six, and then when we go to Banff for three days we'll focus on that again."

As the preseason rolls on, Connor and the Jets really only have one focus.
"We're a team with a chip on our shoulder," said Connor. "We're a confident group and I think we're just going to push each other every day, expect that from each other."
Puck drop is set for 7 pm CT.
THE ROSTER
Forwards -Saku Maenalanen, Adam Lowry, Dominic Toninato, Mikey Eyssimont, Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers, Alex Limoges, Daniel Torgersson, Henri Nikkanen, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Cole Perfetti.
Defencemen -Neal Pionk, Brenden Dillon, Ville Heinola, Simon Lundmark, Josh Morrissey, Dylan Samberg.
Goaltenders -Oskari Salminen, Connor Hellebuyck.
READ THE GAME NOTES