The Winnipeg Jets will lose a key piece of their team for the foreseeable future. Defenceman Josh Morrissey will not play tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes after taking part in morning skate ahead of the game. He is likely to return Thursday against the Boston Bruins.
Don’t see Josh Morrissey (lower body) for #NHLJets pre-game warmup so he is likely to return Thursday Vs #Bruins Kyle Capobianco draws in Vs @Canes
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) March 14, 2023
Josh Morrissey Injury Has Him Out Day-to-Day
Morrissey left the game against the Florida Panthers on March 11 with a lower-body injury in the second period. He was held out of the victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning two days ago, and participated in morning skate today. He did not participate in warmups ahead of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Morrissey is having the best season of his career, with about a point per game. He has 15 goals and 52 assists in 66 games this season. Over his eight-year career with Winnipeg, his previous highest goal total was 12 in the 2021-22 season. He has 55 career goals and 178 career assists in 489 total games.
Impact of Josh Morrissey Injury
Morrissey is a key component of the Jets’ top power play unit. Their next two opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins, are ranked second and first on the penalty kill. Going up against these elite penalty-killing units may prove difficult if Morrissey is unable to return on Thursday, as he currently leads the team in power-play points with 26. Neal Pionk and Nate Schmidt are the two most likely replacements for Morrissey on the top unit.
The Jets are heading into a crucial stretch of the season, as they currently sit in fourth place in the Central division, just one point behind the Colorado Avalanche. They’re in the last wild-card spot in the West, six points ahead of the Nashville Predators. The next few games could be the difference between a guaranteed spot in the playoffs and missing out altogether, and the Jets will be desperate to have all their players on the ice.
Main photo by: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
