Coming into Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators, the Jets were looking to snap a three-game losing streak. They were also looking to get Connor Hellebuyck his 300th career win.
They were successful on both fronts, defeating the Preds 5-2, but it came at a cost. Josh Morrissey (lower-body) left the game and did not return. Safe to say, there was plenty to take away from an eventful night inside Canada Life Centre.
Connor Hellebuyck reaches 300 career wins
The Winnipeg Jets franchise goaltender hit another milestone, further cementing his status as one of the great goalies of this generation: 300 wins.
By reaching 300 wins in 538 games played, he became the third-fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach that mark, along with being the fastest US-born goaltender to do so.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Scott Arniel spoke to the greatness he sees, night in and night out, from his goaltender.
“Just like the third period tonight, those shots that were coming at him, especially on that penalty kill, and that’s the greatness that you see,” Arniel said. “And to be able to be around that, to watch that and be behind a bench watching that every night — that’s special for me. These guys, they only come around every so often. He’s one of those guys. And we’ve got him for a few more years, which is great.”
They have him for seven more years, as I’m sure Jets fans will be delighted to hear that this is just year one of a seven-year extension. This was an incredible career milestone for Hellebuyck, which only brings to light how dominant his season has been to this point.
Hellebuyck currently leads the NHL in Wins (24), GAA (2.09), GSAx (24.22), shutouts (5), saves (865), and is 2nd in SV% (.926). He’s the clear-cut favourite to win the Vezina Trophy once again and should be gaining traction when it comes to the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player.
The most impressive part of Hellebuyck’s season, and his career, has been his consistency. “I think just his consistency,” Morgan Barron said after the game. “It’s been 10-plus years now I think. He’s been a top goalie in the league every year. It seems like it’s night in and night out… It’s just fun. It seems like he hits one of these milestones every couple weeks. I am sure there will be another one coming down the pipeline. I just feel real honoured to be his teammate and get to watch that.”
Josh Morrissey exits with an injury and doesn’t return
Connor Hellebuyck’s milestone night wasn’t all positive, as Josh Morrissey left the game in the second period due to a lower-body injury.
As Morrissey was skating towards the net, he collided with Mark Scheifele and slid into the post knee-first. He left the ice with a limp, returned and took one shift later in the game, before heading back down the tunnel and not returning.
Scott Arniel said after the game that Morrissey is going to be re-evaluated on Wednesday and did not provide any further update.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
While Arniel said at the morning skate Tuesday morning that Dylan Samberg was “getting real close” to a return, the Jets’ blue line is incredibly banged up. Morrissey, Samberg, Haydn Fleury, and Colin Miller are all question marks in the short term.
A loss of Morrissey for any period would be devastating for the Jets, who can’t afford to lose any more power on their blueline. It was encouraging to see Ville Heinola post one of his best performances of the season, as in his 13:52 at five-on-five he was on the goals for 2 goals, out-high-danger-chanced the Predators 5-0, and controlled the shots on goal 10-3.
It has been a rather common occurrence as of late for the Jets to go down to five defencemen during a game, but Arniel liked the way his defence core handled it.
“You know, what’s this, the fourth or fifth time this has happened?” Arniel said. “Kudos to those guys, everybody else stepped up. Ville, Cogs, going in there and playing as a pair, I thought they did a really good job. Guys, sometimes when you get into situations like that, you don’t have a chance to think. You go play and all you’re trying to do is get your breath back and get back out there again. Just a great job by all 5 of those guys.”
Jets’ PK brings the fans to their feet
The Preds had seven power play opportunities on this night and only scored on one of them. Their biggest opportunity to get back into the game came late in the third period when a Logan Stanley double-minor for high-sticking and a Kyle Connor hooking penalty put the Jets on a 5-on-3 kill.
Adam Lowry, Neal Pionk, Dylan DeMelo, and Connor Hellebuyck deserve a ton of credit for killing off these penalties and keeping the game within their control at 4-2.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
With this kill, Canada Life Centre applauded the Jets with a standing ovation. Hellebuyck said after the game that he noticed the appreciation in the moment.
“I did notice that,” Hellebuyck said. “Our crowd got really into it and I think we got a lot of momentum from that moment. They were cheering for good blocked shots… those little moments they give us a burst of energy, and it helps. It really does.”
The penalty kill was an area that Adam Lowry noted as an area to improve upon in the second half of the season, and while both Arniel and Barron admitted that taking seven penalties is not a winning formula, it was a good sign for a struggling Jets PK to have a night such as this one.
Up next
The Jets will look to follow up this performance with another win on Friday night when they welcome the Los Angeles Kings to town. That is game one of a back-to-back, with the Colorado Avalanche set to play here on Saturday night.
These will be two strong tests for Winnipeg, going up against two playoff teams in the Western Conference, and it could come without their star defenceman Josh Morrissey.
Stay tuned to Illegalcurve.com for all news regarding the Jets and Moose and for the latest updates on Josh Morrissey’s status over the coming days.
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