The Winnipeg Jets are expected to have Kyle Connor back in the lineup on Tuesday evening.
The Winnipeg Jets will get a significant boost to the lineup as injured forward Kyle Connor is expected to make his return to game action on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders.
Connor, 27, has been out of the Jets' lineup since suffering a knee injury on December 10 in Anaheim.
He was initially given a six-to-eight week recovery timetable but has healed faster than expected.
“I kind of looked at it as a challenge, a learning experience," Connor shared. "It was the first injury I dealt with in quite some time, to be out with, but I learned a lot about the MCL and the knee, and recovery, exercise rehabbing, and stuff to help enhance everything around it.
"Obviously, patience is a key when you are in a situation like this. We are all competitive athletes and want to be on the ice every chance you get, but at times you need to know when to kind of hold back and not push it on days as well.”
Just five weeks and two days since going down at Honda Center, Connor will return to the lineup for the 7:00 PM central time showdown at Canada Life Centre, having missed just 16 games.
Incredibly, the team went 12-2-2 in his absence.
Connor, however, does still lead the Jets with 17 goals scored on the season. His nearest competition is Nikolaj Ehlers (15 goals) while the currently injured Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti each have 14 markers through the midway point of the season.
Connor, who had just been named the NHL's second star of the week prior to his injury, began the year at a scorching pace. He has 17 goals and 28 points in 26 games played this season.
He began skating on his own following the Christmas break and returned to Jets practice in a yellow, non-contact sweater for the next week. Connor surprised many when he shed the non-contact for a regular sweater on Saturday, to which he has been practicing ever since.