Exhibition Game #07 Preview and GDT: Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild

As the final dress rehearsal before games equal points in the standings, it's completely fair to read into what line-up the Winnipeg Jets are bringing to bear tonight against the Minnesota Wild.

After zeroing in last preview on how the trio Patrik Laine, Bryan Little and Joel Armia seemed set, they've been broken up. The two Finns remain together, with Mathieu Perreault as their new pivot. Laine-Perreault-Armia is likely a third line most Jets fans can live with. Alexander Burmistrov may simply be a Drew Stafford placeholder, but in the meantime, his being alongside Kyle Connor and Bryan Little seems like a no harm, no foul proposition (and truth be told, in this humble blogger's opinion, Connor has earned a slot above Laine to begin the season).

Winnipeg d-corps features neither Mark Stuart nor Brian Strait, but that's not where tonight's story lies. The Jets are creating some goaltender drama llama, as Michael Hutchinson starts for Winnipeg.

Now it’s true that head coach Paul Maurice cited Hutch’s being in a training camp groove versus World Cup third stringers Connor Hellebuyck and Ondrej Pavelec. But as TSN’s Gary Lawless mentioned, the Winnipeg Jets original plan was for Hutch, Pav and Helle to all play two pre-season games. Hutch playing three is a not-insignificant deviation, and when the aforementioned Lawless is guessing trade or waivers, there’s likely some fire to this smoke.

Well now. The final dress rehearsal won’t feature Pavelec or Stu? Good times may be around the corner after all.

— Ryan Blight (@arby_18) October 8, 2016

Paul Maurice said Drew Stafford and Shawn Matthias are both “possible” for Thursday’s season opener vs. Carolina. #NHLJets

— Ted Wyman (@Ted_Wyman) October 8, 2016

Of course, the other side is bringing its best to the party as well. All due respect to the trio of Marko Dano, Adam Lowry and Chris Thorburn, but Minnesota may have the fourth line edge tonight. Dano especially is no slouch, but in Jason Zucker, Joel Eriksson Ek and Christoph Bertschy, the Wild have a fine balance of skill, goal scoring and two-way talent. It's far from your prototypical fourth line, and they're more dangerous for it.