DeMelo has missed the first four games of the season to be with his wife for the birth of their child but is expected to make his season debut when the Jets return home on Saturday.

Hellebuyck stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Jets loss in Toronto on Monday. Hellebuyck stood tall but the offence fell flat, leading to his first loss of the 2021 campaign. Hellebuyck has been strong early on, stopping 58 of the 63 shots (.921 SV%) that he's faced and is a must-start with a great matchup tonight in Ottawa.

Vesalainen sat as a healthy scratch in the first three games of the season but will draw into the lineup on Thursday. Head coach Paul Maurice did not disclose who Vesalainen will replace but he comes in with one assist in five career NHL games.

Heinola is a talented offensive defenseman that will replace Sami Niku and skate on a pair with Josh Morrissey on Thursday. The 19-year-old had four assists in seven games with Finland at the 2021 World Juniors and picked up five points (1G / 4A) in eight NHL games a season ago.

Kahkonen went 3-1-1 with a 2.96 GAA and .913 SV% in his first five career NHL games in 2020. The 2014 fourth-round pick was really good in the AHL before getting promoted, going 25-6-3 with a 2.07 GAA and .927 SV%, so he’s certainly a capable backstop and makes for a solid spot start option vs. an offensively challenged Ducks team.

Hellebuyck gave up three goals on 26 shots in the Jets' overtime win over the Flames last Thursday. The Jets had a long break between their first and second game, so Hellebuyck could see three or four starts during the Jets' five-game week. In two starts vs. the Maple Leafs in 2020, Hellebuyck surrendered eight goals on 45 shots (.822 SV%).

DeMelo did not travel to Toronto, so he will miss at least Monday's game and could miss the entire three-game road-trip. DeMelo is staying in Winnipeg to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

Hellebuyck is one of the few workhorses remaining in the NHL and his heavy workload will begin tonight vs. the Flames. Hellebuyck has won 30-plus games in three straight seasons and is coming off of a Vezina Trophy winning season, posting a 2.57 GAA, .922 SV% and six shutouts. In the Jets and Flames qualifying round matchup, Hellebuyck struggled with a 3.04 GAA and .904 SV%. He'll be looking for revenge on Thursday.

Hellebuyck is one of the few workhorses remaining in the NHL and his heavy workload will begin tonight vs. the Flames. Hellebuyck has won 30-plus games in three straight seasons and is coming off of a Vezina Trophy winning season, posting a 2.57 GAA, .922 SV% and six shutouts. In the Jets and Flames qualifying round matchup, Hellebuyck struggled with a 3.04 GAA and .904 SV%. He'll be looking for revenge on Thursday.

DeMelo and his wife just had a baby so he will not play Thursday vs. the Flames. With DeMelo sidelined, Sami Niku will draw into the lineup.

Ehlers missed Wednesday's practice and Thursday's morning skate because he's in COVID-19 protocol but head coach Paul Maurice did not rule him out for tonight's game. Ehlers is a game-time decision while the Jets hope he's cleared to play but Kristian Vesalainen will replace him if he can't go.

This does not mean that Ehlers has tested positive for COVID-19 but that he came in feeling unwell, got tested and was sent home. Expect the Jets to provide an update on Ehlers stats prior to their season-opening game vs. the Flames.

Comrie continues to work his way around the NHL. He was drafted by the Jets in the second round in 2013 but has been claimed by Arizona, Detroit and then back to Winnipeg since 2019 and is on the move again in 2021. The Devils were shocked by the retirement of Corey Crawford last week, so Comrie will battle with Scott Wedgewood for the backup role to Mackenzie Blackwood. Comrie is 2-5-0 with a 4.23 GAA and .868 SV% in eight career NHL games.