Stanley will play for the first time since November 17th as the Jets opt to play seven defensemen against the Hurricanes on Monday. He has no points in three games this season.

In his first full season with the Jets, Niederreiter is pacing for his best offensive output in over five years and has been rewarded with a three-year, $12 million contract extension. Niederreiter has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 23 games and is firing 2.7 shots on goal per game, the largest volume of his career and well above his career average of 2.0 shots per game. He has played this season predominantly on the third line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.

With Vladislav Namestnikov day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Gustafsson will draw back into the lineup for his 18th game. Gustafsson has two points (2G / 0A) while averaging 8:35 time-on-ice this season, playing predominantly with Rasmus Kupari and Morgan Barron.

Hellebuyck allowed a weak goal from Darnell Nurse late in the third period, ending his shutout bid in an eventual 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Despite losing two consecutive starts, Hellebuyck has been tremendous lately, allowing only 11 total goals in his last six games (4-2-0), posting a stellar .941 SV%. Hellebuyck will look to improve on those totals in a favourable matchup Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost seven of their last nine (2-7-0) and rank third-worst in the league offensively (2.57 GF / GP).

Namestnikov exited Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, playing only 11:53, after an awkward collision with Darnell Nurse and will miss Saturday's game vs. Chicago as he is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Namestnikov had been playing with Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti on the Jets' second line, but his status is out Saturday and doubtful Monday. He has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 22 games this season.

Kahkonen and the Sharks have been much better of late but will be tested on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 16-9. Kahkonen has won two of his last three starts, including a heroic 44-save performance in a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blue on November 16th. That said, Kahkonen could play the game of his life and still come up short, as the Sharks are massive +401 road underdogs against the Devils. The Sharks and Devils are both playing back ends of a back-to-back, the Sharks having lost 3-0 to the Boston Bruins last night while the Devils were victorious 4-3 over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jonsson-Fjallby is expected to come out of the Jets' lineup on Thursday in anticipation of Gabriel Viladri's return. In six games this season, Jonsson-Fjallby registered zero points and one shot on goal while averaging 7:36 time-on-ice.

Hellebuyck played well in a goalie-duel on Tuesday but ultimately came up short, allowing two goals on 21 shots (.905 SV%), losing 2-0 to Jake Oettinger and the Dallas Stars. Despite his most recent loss, Hellebuyck has been on a different level lately, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last four starts (3-1-0), recording a tremendous .948 SV%. That said, Hellebuyck and the Jets will have one of their tougher tests to date as +105 home underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers, who have won three straight and outscored their opposition 18-6.

Vilardi has not played since October 17th, the third game of the season, when he suffered an MCL sprain. His status for Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers remains to be determined but he would add a noticeable offensive punch to a Jets team that already ranks eighth in the league offensively (3.38 GF / GP). Before his injury, Vilardi was seeing deployment on the top powerplay unit, a spot he would likely reclaim in favour of Cole Perfetti.

Hellebuyck has been tremendous lately and will look for his fifth consecutive victory when he starts on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. After an uncharacteristically poor start to the season, registering a .890 SV% in his first nine games (5-3-1), Hellebuyck has flipped the switch and returned to his Vezina-caliber form, posting a .933 SV% in his six games since (5-1-0). The Jets are slight +109 home underdogs against a Stars team that defeated them 3-2 on November 11th.

Vilardi has not played since October 17th due to a sprained MCL but appears to be nearing his return as he participated in practice on Tuesday. Cole Perfetti has been the main benefactor of Vilardi's injury, replacing him on the top powerplay unit. It is unclear if Vilardi will retake his spot on the powerplay, but if he does, it will likely have a great impact on Perfetti's production, as he has scored 16 points (7G / 9A) in the 17 games Vilardi has not been in the lineup.

Toninato has been with the Jets for an extended period this season but has been unable to crack the lineup and, as such, will be loaned to the Manitoba Moose (AHL), where he will see some game action. In five games with Manitoba, Toninato has four 4 points (1G / 3A).

Comrie will take the crease for the first time in four games as he takes on New Jersey on the road Saturday. The 28-year-old has struggled as Buffalo's third goaltender this season, with his 1-2-0 record, 2.62 GAA, and .898 SV%. He will take on the New Jersey Devils, who are trying to right the ship after three straight loses and are 12th in the NHL in goals per game.

San Jose will continue to shuffle their goals as Kaapo Kahkonen makes his third start in five games Saturday vs. Vancouver. It has been yet another horrendous season in San Jose for the 27-year-old, who is 1-6-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .887 SV%. He takes on the offensive juggernauts that are the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two of their last three games and lead the NHL in goals per game (4.05).

Hellebuyck is coming off a stellar performance, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. After a shaky start to the season, in which Hellebuyck posted a .890 SV% in nine games (5-3-0), he has looked more like himself recently with a .918 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0). The Jets will have their hands full on Friday as +124 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team that is second in the Atlantic division and is 7-2-0 in their last nine games.