Jets head coach Bowness explains why he's making the lineup changes

Just a few short months ago, the Winnipeg Jets were one of the NHL's hottest teams, but now, even after acquiring Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan, they struggle with the playoffs on the horizon.

One issue has been the lineup in recent times, with many fans criticizing the pairing of Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele together, and while Head Coach Rick Bowness seems to persist with them together, he's made plenty of other changes.

Now, the Jets coach has defended his decision, revealing why he's continued to shuffle the lineup despite their solid spot in the Central Division standings.

With losses to teams that they should be beating like the Ottawa Senators, alarm bells are sounding in Winnipeg, but with so much talent, they've still got time to click. Tyler Toffoli was also absent from Jets practice today, giving them a chance to see some new combinations on the ice, but if they don't change soon, this could be a disappointing end to a once promising season for Winnipeg.

On top of that, Gabriel Vilardi is back on the top line, so with chemistry and momentum expected to build over the next few weeks, if this team can find the right combinations, they'll be a genuine threat in the Western Conference.