Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup for October 24 2025

The Calgary Flames travel to Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg looking to snap their franchise-worst start to a season as they face the Jets for the second time in four days. With a dismal 1-6-1 record through eight games, the Flames are desperate for answers while the Jets, sitting at 5-2-0, aim to rebound from a shutout loss to Seattle on Thursday night. Both teams will roll out adjusted lineups on Friday, October 24, 2025, with key personnel changes and strategic adjustments expected to shape this Western Canadian rivalry clash.

The 8 p.m. ET puck drop will feature two teams heading in opposite directions. While Winnipeg’s five-game winning streak was snapped by the Kraken, they remain one of the early-season success stories. Calgary, meanwhile, has lost seven consecutive games and finds themselves in a crisis that has raised questions about roster construction and coaching decisions. The projected lineups for both squads reveal interesting wrinkles that could impact the outcome.

Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup for October 24 2025: forward combinations

The Flames’ forward group shows notable alterations from their previous meetings, with head coach Ryan Huska shuffling his deck in search of offensive production. The top line features Jonathan Huberdeau alongside Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee, a trio that combines skill and experience but has struggled to generate consistent scoring chances during Calgary’s losing streak. Kadri’s participation in Friday’s optional morning skate was noteworthy after he missed Thursday’s practice due to maintenance, signaling he should be good to go.

The second line pairs Blake Coleman with Mikael Backlund and Matt Coronato, giving Calgary a defensively responsible trio that can also chip in offensively. Coleman’s two-way prowess makes him valuable in any situation, while Coronato represents one of the Flames’ brightest young talents looking to break through. Backlund continues to serve as a veteran stabilizer who can match up against opponents’ top competition.

Samuel Honzek, Morgan Frost, and Connor Zary form the third unit in an intriguing combination of youth and skill. This line gives Calgary some depth scoring potential, though consistency has been an issue for all three players during the early-season struggles. The fourth line sees Ryan Lomberg, Yegor Sharangovich, and Adam Klapka round out the forward group. Notably, Sharangovich returns to the lineup after serving as a healthy scratch for the previous two games, replacing Justin Kirkland who moves to the press box.

For the Jets, their forward configuration remains largely intact from their recent success. The top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi has been dynamite, combining for multiple points in most games this season. According to NHL.com’s official game preview, this trio continues to drive Winnipeg’s offense with chemistry that has developed rapidly.

Nino Niederreiter, Jonathan Toews, and Gustav Nyquist form a veteran-heavy second line that provides secondary scoring and solid defensive play. The third line features Alex Iafallo, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Brad Lambert, though Lambert could be a candidate for a lineup scratch if coach Scott Arniel opts to insert Parker Ford. Cole Koepke, Morgan Barron, and Tanner Pearson complete the bottom six with a gritty, energy-focused approach.

The Jets are still missing key pieces with Cole Perfetti (ankle), Adam Lowry (hip surgery recovery), and Dylan Samberg (wrist) all sidelined. Lowry’s absence particularly impacts their center depth and penalty-killing units, though the captain is progressing through his rehabilitation program following offseason surgery.

Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup for October 24 2025: defensive pairings

Calgary’s blue line continues to rely heavily on its top pairing of Kevin Bahl and Rasmus Andersson. Andersson remains the Flames’ most reliable defenseman and quarterbacks their power play, while Bahl provides a physical, defensive-minded presence on the left side. This duo will likely draw the assignment of matching against Connor, Scheifele, and Vilardi whenever possible.

The second pairing features Jake Bean and MacKenzie Weegar, two mobile puck-movers who can contribute offensively. Weegar, acquired in the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade, has faced intense scrutiny during Calgary’s struggles but remains capable of impacting games at both ends. Bean provides solid complementary play and has shown improved decision-making in his own zone.

Joel Hanley and rookie Zayne Parekh round out the defensive corps as the third pairing. Parekh, the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, continues his development at the NHL level despite the team’s struggles. Brayden Pachal sits as a scratch, giving Calgary some defensive depth if needed. Martin Pospisil remains out with an undisclosed injury, further limiting the Flames’ options.

Winnipeg’s defensive structure shows potential changes from their shutout loss to Seattle. Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo remain entrenched as the top pairing, with Morrissey recently moving past significant career milestones. This duo handles heavy minutes and consistently faces opponents’ best forwards while contributing to all special teams situations.

Logan Stanley and Neal Pionk form the second pairing, providing size and offensive instincts respectively. Stanley’s 6-foot-7 frame makes him an imposing presence, while Pionk continues to produce points from the back end. The third pairing of Haydn Fleury and Luke Schenn showed interesting usage patterns against Seattle, with Schenn playing just 9:13 while Fleury logged over 15 minutes.

This disparity has fueled speculation that Colin Miller could draw into the lineup for his second start of the season and first on his natural side. Miller remains scratched according to official pregame reports, but Arniel could make a late decision based on matchups. The loss of Dylan Samberg to a wrist injury has forced the Jets to rely more heavily on their depth defenders.

Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup for October 24 2025: goaltending situations

The netminding matchup features two teams with very different approaches to their crease management. For Calgary, Dustin Wolf gets the nod again as the Flames continue to ride their young netminder despite the team’s poor results in front of him. Wolf has shown flashes of brilliance but has also been hung out to dry by defensive breakdowns and offensive droughts. His development remains crucial to Calgary’s long-term plans even as the short-term results prove painful.

Devin Cooley serves as the backup, providing organizational depth but not yet proving himself as a reliable NHL option. The Flames’ goaltending situation lacks the elite presence that typically helps struggling teams stay competitive in games, putting additional pressure on Wolf to steal points with limited support.

Winnipeg makes the strategic decision to start Eric Comrie in his second appearance of the season, resting Connor Hellebuyck after he made 25 saves in Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Seattle. While Hellebuyck stopped everything sent his way (the Jets’ three goals against included two empty-netters), Arniel recognizes the value in keeping his Vezina Trophy winner fresh over the long season.

Comrie faces Calgary at an opportune time given the Flames’ offensive struggles. The veteran backup has shown competence in limited action this season and should have plenty of support from a Jets team eager to get back in the win column. Hellebuyck’s presence on the bench provides insurance if Comrie struggles, though the Jets’ coaching staff remains confident in their backup’s ability to handle the assignment.

Special teams and tactical considerations for the Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets October 24 2025 matchup

The power play battle could prove decisive in this contest. Winnipeg’s man advantage has clicked at a solid rate early in the season, utilizing Morrissey’s vision from the point and the one-timer threat of Kyle Connor on the left flank. Scheifele’s net-front presence and Vilardi’s playmaking create multiple scoring threats that Calgary’s penalty kill must account for simultaneously.

The Flames’ power play, conversely, has sputtered during their losing streak despite featuring skilled operators like Huberdeau, Kadri, and Andersson. Puck movement has been too slow, allowing penalty-killing units to establish positioning and clog shooting lanes. Calgary desperately needs their special teams to provide a spark that their five-on-five play has failed to generate.

Defensively, the Jets’ penalty kill ranks among the league’s best, utilizing active sticks and aggressive pressure to limit time and space. Lowry’s absence removes their most effective penalty-killing forward, but Barron and Toews have stepped up admirably in that role. The Flames will need sustained zone time and quality shot attempts to beat Comrie during power plays.

Faceoff efficiency represents another crucial element, particularly with Scheifele’s dominance in the circle. Winnipeg’s ability to win draws allows them to establish offensive zone possession and limit opposition time on attack. Backlund provides Calgary’s best counter, but the Flames have lost the possession battle consistently during their slide. Controlling faceoffs could dictate territorial advantages and scoring chances throughout the night.

Keys to victory in the Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup matchup on October 24 2025

For Calgary to emerge victorious, they must solve the defensive structure that stifled them in Monday’s meeting between these teams. The Flames need to generate more high-danger scoring chances rather than settling for perimeter shots that allow Comrie to see pucks clearly. Net-front presence and creating traffic will be essential, particularly on the power play where second-chance opportunities often prove decisive.

Defensively, Calgary cannot afford the breakdowns that have plagued them throughout their losing streak. Gap control and stick positioning must improve, especially when defending rush chances where the Jets excel. Wolf will need to be sharp, but the Flames must limit odd-man rushes and slot chances that leave even elite goaltenders vulnerable. Discipline will be crucial—avoiding penalties against Winnipeg’s potent power play could determine the outcome.

The Jets’ path to victory runs through their home-ice advantage and superior depth. Winnipeg should dominate possession and territorial play if they execute their structure properly. The Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi line must continue their torrid pace, while the bottom six forwards need to maintain the energy and forecheck intensity that has defined the Jets’ early success.

Winnipeg must also demonstrate short-term memory after the Seattle shutout. Getting pucks to the net early will test Comrie’s confidence and potentially generate rebounds that the Jets can capitalize on. Morrissey and Pionk need to activate from the blue line at appropriate times, providing additional offensive threats while maintaining defensive responsibility. If the Jets execute their systems and take advantage of Calgary’s fragile confidence, they should control this game from start to finish.

The stage is set for a crucial Western Canadian showdown that means vastly different things to each team. Calgary desperately needs any kind of positive result to halt their spiral and restore some confidence in a locker room that must be questioning everything. Winnipeg, meanwhile, seeks to prove Thursday’s loss was merely a blip rather than the start of a negative trend. The projected lineups suggest both coaches are making calculated adjustments, but execution on the ice will ultimately determine which team’s October 24 2025 gameplan proves superior.