Morrissey likely out until playoffs, Maurice says

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This article was published 26/02/2019 (2385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets are going to have to get used to life without Josh Morrissey.

Coach Paul Maurice confirmed Tuesday that the top-pairing defenceman will be out of the lineup until at least early April with an upper-body injury suffered Sunday night in Arizona. That likely means his regular-season is close to over, since the Jets wrap up the 82-game schedule on April 6.

It’s a big blow for a team that has stumbled in recent weeks and is already without Dustin Byfuglien and Joe Morrow. Morrissey has already set a career high with 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 59 games.

Winnipeg is just 3-5-2 over the past 10 games and will look to get back on track when they host the Minnesota Wild tonight at Bell MTS Place (7 p.m.) Two new players obtained at Monday’s trade deadline will make their debuts.

Defenceman Nathan Beaulieu, obtained from the Buffalo Sabres, slides into Morrissey’s spot on the blue line, beside Jacob Trouba. And centre Kevin Hayes, obtained from the New York Rangers, will be on the second line between Nikolaj Ehlers and Mathieu Perreault.

Forwards Matt Hendricks (Minnesota) and Par Lindholm (Toronto) will be healthy scratches, along with defenceman Bogdan Kiselevich (Florida), who hadn’t arrived in Winnipeg yet as of morning skate but is expected by mid-afternoon.

Connor Hellebuyck gets the start in goal for the Jets, who will wear their special Heritage Classic jerseys. There will also be a special pre-game ceremony where former captains Ab McDonald and Lars-Erik Sjoberg will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, joining Anders Hedberg, Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Dale Hawerchuk.

The Jets just wrapped up a three-game road trip by going 1-2-0, including a 4-1 loss to the Coyotes Sunday. Winnipeg is 37-21-4 and now in second place in the Central Division, one point behind Nashville but with three games in hand.

The Predators will come to town Friday to close out this short two-game homestand before the Jets hit the road again for four games through the Eastern Conference.

Minnesota (30-27-6) currently occupies the final Western Conference wildcard playoff spot, one point ahead of Colorado. The Wild are a perfect 3-0-0 against the Jets this season.

Minnesota made one trade deadline deal, sending forward Mikael Granlund to Nashville in exchange for forward Kevin Fiala, who will make his Wild debut tonight.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg

JETS LINEUP:

Goal:

Hellebuyck

Forwards:

Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler

Perreault-Hayes-Ehlers

Connor-Little-Roslovic

Copp-Lowry-Tanev

Defence:

Beaulieu-Trouba

Kulikov-Myers

Chiarot-Niku

INJURED: Byfuglien, Morrissey, Morrow

SCRATCHED: Hendricks, Lindholm, Kiselevich