Morrissey remains sidelined

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This article was published 25/02/2020 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The game of musical chairs continued for Winnipeg’s defence Tuesday night.

Anthony Bitetto was a late addition to a Jets blue line that had its hands full at Capital One Arena against the powerful Washington Capitals.

He was actually the Central Division squad’s second choice to replace Josh Morrissey, who missed a second consecutive game as he deals with an upper-body injury. Sami Niku was set to fill in but, according to a Tweet from the Jets, “will not play in tonight’s game due to a lower-body injury sustained prior to pre-game warmup.”

Morrissey’s status is listed as day-to-day, and he could return to the lineup Thursday when the teams renew acquaintances at Bell MTS Place.

• • •

Patrik Laine hasn’t been keeping track of his hockeydb.com page lately.

If he’s to be believed, the Jets winger seemed caught off guard when informed Tuesday’s tilt with the Capitals represented the 300th game of his NHL career.

The 21-year-old from Tampere, Finland, who has missed just 11 games during his four-year career, didn’t see much significance in the milestone.

“No, not really. It’s my fourth year. I didn’t know it was my 300th. It came up pretty quickly. It doesn’t feel like I’ve played 300 games,” Laine said following the game-day morning skate.

Laine scored 36 goals in his rookie season (2016-17), followed up with a fabulous 44-goal campaign and then had 30 last season, including 18 in the month of November, 2018. He’s up to 26 goals in 63 games this year, while adding a career-high 33 assists.

“Yeah and no,” he said when asked if he’s satisfied with the start to his NHL career. “There’s been some difficulties but it’s just the way it goes sometimes. But overall, pretty satisfied how things have gone.”

Head coach Paul Maurice expressed some shock at the milestone.

“That’s just a huge number, 300 games when you say that to me — and he hasn’t hit 22 yet. And the growth in his game each year just continues,” he said. “This guy is developing more and more into a power forward. But boy, 300 at that age, that’s a feat.”

• • •

Dmitry Kulikov didn’t watch any trade-centre action Monday on TV — and not because he was in the U.S. where the Washington hotel’s available sports channels likely had bass fishing or re-runs of college hoops on, anyway.

The Jets blue-liner’s phone didn’t ring, so he knew he was staying put. And he didn’t catch wind of any additions or deletions to the Winnipeg roster during time spent with his teammates during an off day.

Kulikov said the acquisitions of defenceman Dylan DeMelo and centre Cody Eakin will bolster a lineup he believes will battle its way into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It’s all up to us in this room,” he said. “We have the personnel to win some games down the stretch and accomplish the ultimate goal of making the playoffs.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell