Despite early practice exit, Laine in lineup against red-hot Blue Jackets

By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 2:53 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 Last Modified: 5:21 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 | Updates

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Rookie right-winger Patrik Laine is feeling well enough to suit up tonight when the Jets take on the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets at the MTS Centre.

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Rookie right-winger Patrik Laine is feeling well enough to suit up tonight when the Jets take on the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets at the MTS Centre.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/12/2016 (3491 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rookie right-winger Patrik Laine is feeling well enough to suit up tonight when the Jets take on the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets at the MTS Centre.

The John Tortorella-coached club steamrolls into town on a 13-game winning streak, and in possession of a sparkling 24-5-4 record.

Laine, who left Wednesday’s practice early with an undisclosed ailment, spent 20 minutes on the ice this morning before the Jets’ pre-game skate, which he did not participate in. But head coach Paul Maurice said his young star will be in the lineup.

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Patrik Laine, who left Wednesday's practice early with an undisclosed ailment, will be on the ice tonight. — CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Patrik Laine, who left Wednesday's practice early with an undisclosed ailment, will be on the ice tonight.

No. 2 goalie Michael Hutchinson will get the start after Connor Hellebuyck’s stellar 34-save performance in a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago Tuesday.

“I’ve liked his game going back 2-1/2 weeks,” Maurice said of Hutchinson. “It was such an important win for us in Vancouver (on Dec. 22), he made some really critical saves. I wanted to get Connor in against Chicago and I felt (Hutchinson) deserved to get back in. Michael’s game is on.”

Curtis McElhinney, the No. 2 man in Columbus behind Sergei Bobrovsky, will get the start in goal for the Blue Jackets. McElhinney has a 2-0-2 record, a 1.99 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in five appearances.

“The game requires some respect tonight,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “You gotta respect these guys, the streak they’re on, the way that they’re playing, but our focus is on how we can stick to our game play for 60 minutes.”