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.

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.

Schenn had to sit out the Lightning's season opener due to salary cap reasons but will play Friday vs. the Blackhawks. The Lightning did not announce who he will replace but it will most likely be rookie Cal Foote.

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.

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.

Schenn served as a No.7 defenseman in Tampa Bay for most of the year but appeared in 25 regular season and 11 postseason games to get his name on the Stanley Cup. With both Jan Rutta and Kevin Shattenkirk likely moving on, there's a chance that Schenn could be a third-pairing defenseman in 2021.

DeMelo was set to become a UFA on Friday but the Jets have locked him up through the 2024 season at $3.0M. This is a fair price for a defenseman, who is a pretty good offensive play driver who is also rock solid in his own end. DeMelo had 10 assists, 105 hits and 77 blocked shots in 59 games between the Senators and Jets last season.