Winnipeg Jets Afternoon Links

Note: Puck drop is at 7 pm CST as the Jets go up against the Islanders in Winnipeg. After the game, be sure to check out illegalcurve.com for all the post-game reaction.

Note II: We want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show once the final buzzer sounds.

Note III: The big news of the day is that Kyle Connor will return tonight vs Islanders.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun: He’s back: Kyle Connor returns to Jets ahead of schedule. It’s somewhat amazing to think that when he last played a game back on December 10th he was the leading goal scorer on Winnipeg with 17 goals. 16 games later he remains the leading goal scorer on this team and yet they remain the top team in the Central and a top three team in the NHL overall. 

The Athletic Winnipeg: How Rick Bowness helped revitalize the Winnipeg Jets — and earned an All-Star Game trip. (Paywall). Murat gives you his insight into the bench boss of Winnipeg revitalizing both this Jets club as well as his career.

Illegal Curve: Jets vs Islanders pre-game report. Check out the projected lines and D pairs and get all the latest game info.

Illegal Curve: Morning Papers. If you missed any of the news from earlier today, we have you covered.

Jets video:

TSN: Kyle Connor ‘challenged’ himself during recovery; returns tonight sooner than expected. Kyle Connor was expected to miss 6-8 weeks with an MCL injury, instead he’ll be back in the lineup tonight after just five weeks of recovery. He discusses the challenges of his recovery and how he’s been itching to get back into the lineup.

Sportsnet: Jets’ Bowness looking forward to return of Kyle Connor after a month out with knee injury. Jets head coach Rick Bowness discusses the forward Kyle Connor after medical staff gave him the green light to return to the ice after a knee injury sidelined him for over a month.

Sportsnet: Malott brothers hoping to climb the ranks in the octagon and on the ice. Though Mike and Jeff Malott may favour different arenas, Mike in the octagon and Jeff on the ice, both never shy away from a little rough and tumble. Mike won his first career UFC tilt on the same night Jeff made his NHL debut.