The league has the Leafs in Winnipeg to take on the Jets because, ya know, that forced rivalry with 2017 Calder Trophy winner Auston Matthews and some other guy who didn’t win the 2017 Calder Trophy named Patrik Laine. I don’t think there’s actually anything there, but whatever. Jets and Leafs games are fun because these are two teams with a lot of speed and skill, so we’re likely going to see quite a few pucks in the back of the net tonight.

Here we go, friends. The Buds are back.

Lineups…

The Leafs

The Jets

Quick hits…

The only real surprises in Toronto’s lineup to start the season are Eric Fehr and Andreas Borgman.
Fehr, who was acquired as a cap dump at last year’s deadline, was sort of viewed as an afterthought, but he’s anchoring the fourth line tonight rather than Dominic Moore. He’s an upgrade in the extra forward role over Ben Smith.
Then there’s Borgman, who leaped over Martin Marincin for the third spot on the left side of the blueline alongside Connor Carrick. Otherwise, we have the standard lines and pairs that everybody expected.
Like I said, this is a Jets team loaded with high-end skill. They’ve always had a hell of a time keeping the puck out of the net, and while their blueline looks better and Steve Mason is an upgrade on Ondrej Pavelec and Co., it’s more of a Paul Maurice thing than anything. So there’s a good chance we’re going to see a high-scoring affair tonight.
And finally: THE BUDS ARE BACK.