Columbus Blue Jackets vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup November 18 2025: who skates where in Winnipeg

Columbus Blue Jackets projected lineup November 18 2025: Laine returns to top line, Merzlikins gets the net

Pascal Vincent confirmed after practice that Patrik Laine will re-join Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson on the top unit, ending a two-game experiment that saw Yegor Chinakhov promoted in his place. The Finnish sniper has four goals in his last five visits to Winnipeg, the building where he originally broke into the NHL.

Forwards

• Laine – Jenner – Johnson
• Chinakhov – Fantilli – Nyquist
• Marchenko – Kuraly – Voronkov
• Robinson – Gaunce – Bemström

Defense pairs

• Werenski – Severson
• Gavrikov – Boqvist
• Peeke – Christiansen

Goaltender

• Merzlikins (confirmed starter)
• Tarasov (backup)

Vincent also hinted that the second power-play unit will feature rookie Adam Fantilli in the bumper role, a wrinkle added after Columbus went 0-for-11 with the man-advantage during the recent road trip. If you missed our deep-dive on Fantilli’s Calder Trophy odds, check the season preview we published last month.

Winnipeg Jets projected lineup November 18 2025: Ehlers back, Schmidt draws in

Rick Bowness kept reporters waiting for 12 minutes after skate, finally announcing that Nikolaj Ehlers has been cleared from concussion protocol and will slot back on the second line with Cole Perfetti and Alex Iafallo. The Danish winger brings instant speed against a Columbus blue line that has struggled with gap control away from the puck.

Forwards

• Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
• Ehlers – Perfetti – Iafallo
• Namestnikov – Lowry – Appleton
• Barron – Kuhlman – Maenalanen

Defense pairs

• Morrissey – DeMelo
• Dillon – Pionk
• Schmidt – Stanley

Goaltender

• Hellebuyek (confirmed starter)
• Comrie (backup)

Bowness stressed that the key matchup will be the Scheifele line against Jenner’s trio: “We want Kyle out there for every Laine shift. If we make Patrik defend, we like our chances.” The Jets enter 9-1-0 at home, out-scoring opponents 38-20 in the first period alone.

Special teams snapshot for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Winnipeg Jets November 18 2025

• Columbus power play: 18.4% (22nd)
• Columbus penalty kill: 74.1% (30th)
• Winnipeg power play: 26.7% (3rd)
• Winnipeg penalty kill: 86.2% (4th)

The disparity is stark. The Jets have scored at least one PPG in eight straight at Canada Life Centre, while the Jackets have allowed two or more in four of their last six overall. Assistant coach Steve McCarthy ran an extra 15-minute PK session Monday, focusing on weak-side rotations that left Merzlikins exposed against Vancouver last Saturday.

Key individual matchups that could swing the game

1. Laine vs Morrissey – The former Jet will see plenty of the league’s minute-leader on the left boards. Morrissey’s active stick held Laine to two shots in last year’s 4-1 Winnipeg win.
2. Fantilli vs Lowry – The rookie has been electric at 5-on-5, but Lowry’s line starts 63% of its shifts in the D-zone and wins 56% of draws. A head-to-head shut-down could stunt Columbus’ secondary scoring.
3. Werenski vs Connor – Columbus’ top blueliner has struggled against elite speed; Connor’s 13 goals in November already tie a franchise record for any calendar month.

Injury report and lineup notes ahead of puck-drop

• Columbus: F Zach Aston-Reese (lower-body) skated in red, no contact. D Ivan Provorov (hand) remains week-to-week.
• Winnipeg: D Neal Pionk blocked a shot Sunday but took regular rushes Monday; he will play. F Rasmus Kupari was placed on IR retroactive to Nov 14, opening the door for Schmidt’s return.

The Jets will also wear their new “Aviator” alternates for the second time this season, a navy-blue jersey that players voted to keep permanently after going 6-0-0 in the set during pre-season.

Betting angle & fantasy hockey spin for November 18

Books opened Winnipeg -210, the shortest price on any home team this slate. The total sits at 6.5 with heavy juice to the over, thanks to Columbus’ 3.58 goals-against average away from Nationwide Arena. DFS players should note Ehlers’ salary has dropped $400 on DraftKings since the injury layoff; he averages 4.2 shots per game versus Columbus in his career, second only to his rate against Arizona.

If you’re building lineups, stack the Scheifele line with Morrissey on the blue for correlation, then pivot to a low-owned Marchenko on the road side for GPP leverage. For season-long pools, Merzlikins is a desperation start at best—his .872 road save percentage is the worst among goalies with 10-plus appearances.

What the advanced stats say about this matchup

MoneyPuck’s model gives Winnipeg a 68% win probability, citing expected goals share (xGF%) of 55.1 at even strength. Columbus clocks in at 46.3%, 28th league-wide. The Jackets’ forecheck generates the fourth-most dump-ins, yet they recover only 38%—a bad omen against a Jets breakout that ranks top-five in controlled exits.

One silver lining: Columbus’ slot-pass defense has tightened since the arrival of trade-deadline pickup Severson, cutting high-danger chances against by 11% over the last 10. If they can force Winnipeg to the perimeter and stay out of the box, the upset window creeps open.

Final projected lineups & TV information

Columbus Blue Jackets
Laine – Jenner – Johnson
Chinakhov – Fantilli – Nyquist
Marchenko – Kuraly – Voronkov
Robinson – Gaunce – Bemström

Werenski – Severson
Gavrikov – Boqvist
Peeke – Christiansen

Merzlikins
Tarasov

Winnipeg Jets
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Ehlers – Perfetti – Iafallo
Namestnikov – Lowry – Appleton
Barron – Kuhlman – Maenalanen

Morrissey – DeMelo
Dillon – Pionk
Schmidt – Stanley

Hellebuyek
Comrie

Puck-drop is 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN3 in Canada and ESPN+ in the U.S. For more Jets coverage, read our breakdown of their dominant first-period numbers.

Expect a fast start from the home side, but if Columbus can survive the opening 10 minutes—and cash in on a rare power-play look—Tuesday night could produce the league’s next big upset. Either way, the Columbus Blue Jackets vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineup November 18 2025 sets the stage for a matchup dripping with storylines, from Laine’s return to Ehlers’ rebound and the continued brilliance of Connor-Scheifele. Keep the popcorn close; this one could be decided in the final 90 seconds.