Hutchinson to get start in net against Lightning

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This article was published 30/01/2018 (2782 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He was missing in action at the morning skate, somewhere in transit between Utica and Winnipeg, but Michael Hutchinson will arrive in time for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and make his first National Hockey League start of the season.

Jets coach Paul Maurice confirmed his decision to give No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck some extra rest, even if it means putting Hutchinson between the pipes after several hectic days.

Steve Mason is on the injured list with a concussion, so Hutchinson has been serving in a backup role with the Jets. He travelled back from California on Friday, then immediately headed to Quebec on a re-assignment with the Manitoba Moose. Hutchinson played in Laval Saturday night — making 32 saves in a 5-2 win — then headed to New York for the American Hockey League All-Star game. He took part in Sunday’s skills competition and Monday night’s game, then caught a commercial flight back to Winnipeg early Tuesday.

“This is about Connor Hellebuyck,” Maurice said following the morning skate when asked for the rationale behind his decision. “About 11,000 miles last month (of travel), played four-in-six coming out of the break. Went from off to here to Calgary and back to here, to the West Coast, to the East Coast and back to here. He gets the day off.”

Maurice said Hutchinson was expected to arrive in the city by lunch time and there were no concerns with his travel schedule. As for Hellebuyck, Maurice admitted this is more a team decision than his workhorse wanting time off following a busy stretch which includes playing in Sunday’s NHL All-Star game in Florida.

“He’ll play every game. They all will. Like I said, 11,000 miles is enough. Ten time-zone changes, four-out-of-six. Been to an All-Star game and home. He’s our No. 1 guy, we’ll take care of him a little bit,” said Maurice.

Hutchinson lost his spot with the Jets out of training camp with the addition of Steve Mason, who is now out indefinitely with what is believed to be his second concussion of the season. As a member of the Manitoba Moose, Hutchinson has been one of the AHL’s best goalies, with a 15-2-4 record, 1.95 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

Winnipeg (29-13-8) faces a tough task tonight as they kick off a 10-game homestand against Tampa Bay (34-12-3) who lead the NHL in points. The Jets will be without the services of defenceman Jacob Trouba, who was hurt in the final moments of last Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Anaheim. He is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks with an ankle sprain.

Dmitry Kulikov will also miss a second straight game with an injury, but could be an option for Thursday’s contest against Vegas, Maurice said.

However, Winnipeg will welcome back centre Adam Lowry, who had missed the past eight games with an upper-body injury. He returns to his familiar spot centring the third line, with Andrew Copp and Joel Armia on his wings.

Maurice didn’t say which forward would come out of the lineup with Lowry’s return.

“We’re excited to get back at it. I’ve never had travel like we’ve had already this year. I don’t think I’ve ever had a 10-game homestand either. We have one home game tonight. Start with that one,” captain Blake Wheeler said this morning. “The best team in the league is in our home building. It’s going to be a tough game. A good measuring stick for us. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg

PROJECTED JETS LINEUP:

FORWARDS:

Laine-Wheeler-Roslovic

Perreault-Little-Ehlers

Copp-Lowry-Armia

Tanev-Hendricks-Connor/Dano

DEFENCE:

Morrissey-Myers

Enstrom-Byfuglien

Chiarot-Poolman

GOAL:

Hutchinson

Hellebuyck

SCRATCHES: Scheifele (injured), Matthias (injured), Trouba (injured) Kulikov (injured), Mason (injured)