Pionk has missed significant time due to injuries this season and will return to the sidelines on Monday due to an undisclosed ailment. The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 22:43 time-on-ice and has 12 points (3G / 9A) in 51 games this season. Colin Miller is returning from a knee injury and will draw into the lineup as Pionk's replacement.
One of Winnipeg's top prospects is expected to make his NHL debut in Vegas on Monday as Brayden Yager is expected to draw in Winnipeg's lineup for his first career appearance. The 21-year-old was Pittsburgh's 2023 1st round pick (14th overall) but was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh for Rutger McGroarty in August on 2024. Yager enjoyed a solid first season with Manitoba (AHL) in 2025-26, with 10 goals, and 30 points in 68 games played.
Hellebuyck struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 20 shots (.750 SV%) in a 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, severely crippling Winnipeg's slim playoff hopes. That said, they will need a win on Monday, along with some luck elsewhere in the league, to stay in the race. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck, the back-to-back reigning Vezina trophy winner, has had a largely disappointing 2025-26 season and hasn't been able to elevate his game at opportune times, including posting an ugly 2.81 GAA and .874 SV% in five games this month (3-2-0). The Jets enter Monday's contest as +150 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Hellebuyck allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Jets' win in St. Louis on Thursday. Hellebuyck is starting to heat up for the Jets, who are hoping it's not too little, too late. He's won three in a row while allowing just five goals on 62 shots (.919 SV%). Tonight he'll face the Flyers as -126 home favourites.
Hellebuyck allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Jets' win in St. Louis on Thursday. Hellebuyck is starting to heat up for the Jets, who are hoping it's not too little, too late. He's won three in a row while allowing just five goals on 62 shots (.919 SV%). Tonight he'll face the Flyers as -126 home favourites.
The Jets have a game in hand and are four points back of the Nashville Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and have no margin for error with only five games remaining in their regular season. Hellebuyck has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season, but has given his team a chance on most nights in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won five of his last seven games (5-2-0) while posting a solid 2.16 GAA and .910 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, whom they defeated 3-2 last month.
The Jets have a game in hand and are four points back of the Nashville Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and have no margin for error with only five games remaining in their regular season. Hellebuyck has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season, but has given his team a chance on most nights in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won five of his last seven games (5-2-0) while posting a solid 2.16 GAA and .910 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, whom they defeated 3-2 last month.
Skinner was a late scratch in Pittsburgh's previous game due to an upper-body injury, but he will return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old Skinner struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Skinner has struggled in recent weeks, allowing three or more goals in all but one of his last nine games (3-3-3), posting a 3.58 GAA and .876 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that is 1-1-1 in their last three games.
Stuart Skinner (upper body) was a late scratch on Sunday, resulting in the team recalling Taylor Gauthier from the ECHL. Gauthier was eventually sent back, with Murashov being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That said, with Skinner being a full participant at practice on Tuesday, and the Penguins not playing until Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, it seems unlikely that Skinner will miss any more time unless the team decides to be extra cautious with the postseason on the immediate horizon.
Namestnikov has not played since the end of February, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old forward is averaging 13:52 time-on-ice and has 13 points (7G / 6A) in 57 games this season.
Niederreiter scored one goal in five games while representing Switzerland at the Olympics, but suffered a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for nearly six weeks. The 33-year-old veteran forward has 19 points (8G / 11A) in 55 games with Winnipeg this season.
On Thursday, Salomonsson was on the receiving end of a heavy hit from Dallas Stars' forward Jason Robertson, and exited the game after only 8:56 time-on-ice due to concussion protocol. The 21-year-old first-year Swedish defenseman is averaging 17:58 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 32 games. He has not played since and will remain out of the lineup on Monday.
Barron has been a key bottom-six forward for the Jets this season, but is battling a lower-body injury that could effectively sideline him for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old Barron is averaging 12:48 time-on-ice and has 23 points (11G / 12A) in 65 games this season.
The Jets remain within reach of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but with only six games remaining, they will need Hellebuyck to be at his best to give them any hope. After winning consecutive Vezina Trophies, Hellebuyck has had a disappointing 2025-26 season, but he has played better in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won four of his last six (4-2-0), posting a solid 2.18 GAA and .909 SV%. The Jets enter Monday's contest as -167 home favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has free-fallen out of the playoff race with a 2-6-2 record in their last 10 games.
