The Winnipeg Jets won’t receive too many built-in scheduling advantages during the 2026-27 season, but they also won’t be faced with a heavier travel/rest calendar either.
According to data compiled by Sports 1440/Daily Faceoff’s Jason Gregor, the Jets are scheduled to play in just nine back-to-back sets this season, which is tied for the seventh-fewest in the NHL.
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Only the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights have fewer such situations (eight back-to-backs), while the Pittsburgh Penguins lead the league with a whopping 15 back-to-backs. The Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals will each play 14 back-to-backs. (Jason Gregor on X – Back-to-back totals)
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The lighter workload also compares favourably within the Central Division. Dallas will navigate 13 back-to-back sets, St. Louis 12, Nashville 11, and both Colorado and Minnesota 10, leaving Winnipeg with fewer consecutive-game situations than every division rival except Utah, which is also scheduled for 10.
The flip side, however, is that the Jets also won’t have as many opportunities to capitalize on tired opponents.
Gregor’s stats also show Winnipeg will face an opponent playing the second half of a back-to-back just five times this year, which is tied with Toronto for the fewest in the NHL. By comparison, the Montreal Canadiens will enjoy that advantage 19 times, while Anaheim will do so 18 times.
Although that means the Jets won’t receive many built-in rest advantages, the overall picture still points towards a rather balanced schedule, overall. Winnipeg has a few back-to-backs of its own, while also avoiding many games where amount of rest is a major factor.
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Last season, the Jets had no serious issue with games on back-to-back dates. Despite its overall record, Winnipeg went a decent 6-3 in the second test of a back-to-back, earning wins in 67 percent of its nine tests.
Although the sample size is relatively small, it ranked among the league’s stronger performances and indicates the club has generally handled those situations well.
The Jets’ schedule overall will boast a relatively favourable balance. Sure they will get some tired opponents, but will not need to play on back-to-back nights very often. That, combined with their success in back-to-backs last year, consecutive games should not be a major hurdle for what most are expecting to be a stronger regular season performance this season.
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