Jets’ Josh Morrissey Set to Return Tuesday, Looks to Extend Recent Success vs. New Jersey

On Tuesday, ahead of their game against the New Jersey Devils, the Winnipeg Jets announced that star defenseman Josh Morrissey would return to the lineup. The 31-year-old has not played since October 7, when he suffered a wrist injury against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Jets are 3-1-0 with Morrissey in the lineup this season and 4-8-2 without him, and during that stretch without him their back end has the fifth-worst goals-against average in the league at 3.79 per game. 

His return should help an offense that has struggled all season, scoring 2.72 goals per game, the seventh-worst mark in the league. An offensive defenseman, the Calgary native has three assists in four games this season and should give the ice-cold offense a much-needed boost.

Morrissey has had much success against New Jersey, which could matter on Tuesday. In his last seven games against the Devils, he has a goal and ten assists for 11 points, and he is a plus-12 over 18 career games against them, with a plus rating in four straight matchups. 

The Jets will need him against a team that doesn't allow many chances as the Devils have outshot their opponent in all but one of their 18 games this season. They lead the league at 33.7 shots on goal per game, while allowing the fourth-fewest shots against per game at 24.8 on average.

Morrissey's return will also move interim replacement Neal Pionk back down the depth chart. The 31-year-old stepped into the top pairing and onto the power play and penalty kill, and he has been quite solid. He has four goals and eight assists for 12 points, matching his full-season total from a year ago in just 18 games, while averaging more than 24 minutes a game in a major role that has helped keep the Jets afloat in some games. 

Morrissey's return lets him settle into a less significant role, and the hope is he can build off a solid start to the season. It'll be a major addition for the Jets to get Morrissey back ahead of a crucial game where Winnipeg eyes their fourth straight win and a game they would like to win for a number of reasons.

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