Winnipeg Jets, Awaiting Dustin Byfuglien’s Return, Lose Josh Morrissey
The Winnipeg Jets blueline has been playing much better of late, allowing more than three goals just twice in their last 13 games, going 9-3-1 in the process. But with a return on the horizon, another injury just hit.
Whatever way you slice it, Josh Morrissey and Dustin Byfuglien are the Winnipeg Jets‘ two best defensemen.
They both actually have 29 points on the season as well, though Byfuglien’s done it in 19 fewer contests. Buff is more of an offensive and physical force, whereas Morrissey’s a jack-of-all-trades, top pairing kind of guy.
They’re both paramount to the team’s success, and Byfuglien being out since late December has put a damper on things. The Winnipeg Jets have gone 10-4-1 in his absence, however, a testament to the depth and talent on this team overall.
But Big Buff’s return is on the horizon, as he should be back any day now. I actually expected he’d return for their painful OT loss to San Jose, which came on a shorthanded goal. Brutal. Just brutal.
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What’s more brutal than the loss and the fact that Byfuglien wasn’t in the lineup? Well, in the first period, Josh Morrissey dropped down to block a shot, and didn’t get up immediately. As he did, he limped off the ice and directly to the locker room.
Later we were informed that he would not return for the game, which at the time, didn’t come as a surprise. It would be a huge blow to the Jets if Morrissey were to miss a significant amount of time.
Reports, however, have listed him as day to day with a lower body injury, and he hasn’t even been ruled out for Thursday’s contest against Montreal. Now, if you saw it, it didn’t look like he’d miss just the remainder of that game.
Maybe it’s just a bone bruise. Hopefully it’s not a break. I guess if it were, we’d have been informed that Morrissey would be missing more time.
I suppose it’s good news that he’s day-to-day, but I wouldn’t expect to see him in Montreal on Thursday. I know every point counts, but it looked like the poor kid could use a few days off after that one.
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Hopefully it is nothing serious, however. The Jets need all the defensive help they can get. Every NHL team does. But on Thursday, why don’t you find out for yourself?