The Jets received devasting news on Tuesday as their leading goal-scorer will miss six to eight weeks with a knee injury following a collision with Ryan Strome on Sunday. Before his injury, Connor had 28 points (17G / 11A) and 102 shots on goal in 26 games. Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to see an increase in usage during Connor's absence, including exposure to the top powerplay unit.
Hellebuyck has been sensational lately and will return to the crease on Thursday after having the night off in the Jets' previous game on Monday. Posting a 5-2-0 record in his last seven games, Hellebuyck has one shutout and a stellar .942 SV%, allowing more than two goals in only one contest. The Jets are +119 road underdogs against their division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, who will welcome Cale Makar back into the lineup.
Previously skating with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup, the Jets will return to the more traditional formation as Nate Schmidt and Declan Chisholm will both be healthy scratches on Thursday, allowing Jonsson-Fjallby to re-enter the lineup. Jonsson-Fjallby has been held without a point in eight games this season, averaging 7:16 time-on-ice.
Hellebuyck has been sensational lately and will likely return to the crease on Thursday after having the night off in the Jets' previous game on Monday. Posting a 5-2-0 record in his last seven games, Hellebuyck has one shutout and a stellar .942 SV%, allowing more than two goals in only one contest. The Jets are +119 road underdogs against their division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, who will welcome Cale Makar back into the lineup.
Kahkonen has settled into his role as the Sharks' backup goaltender this season, with three quality starts in his last four outings, and will start on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Kahkonen is riding consecutive wins for the first time this season and has saved 74 of the last 80 shots he has faced (.925 SV%). The Sharks and Kahkonen face off against the sixth-worst offence in the league (2.78 GF / GP) but are still considerable +279 road underdogs against the Islanders.
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovering from an illness, the Sabres have called Devon Levi, who is expected to serve as the backup to Eric Comrie on Tuesday. Comrie has been inconsistent through six games this season (1-4-0), posting an ugly 3.99 GAA and .864 SV%. and has failed to record a quality start since his season debut on October 21st. The Sabres have struggled to score, losing three straight contests, and, as such, are +119 home underdogs against a rolling Detroit Red Wings team that has won five of their last six outings (5-1-0).
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovering from an illness, the Sabres have called Devon Levi, who is expected to serve as the backup to Eric Comrie on Tuesday. Comrie has been inconsistent through six games this season (1-4-0), posting an ugly 3.99 GAA and .864 SV%. and has failed to record a quality start since his season debut on October 21st. The Sabres have struggled to score, losing three straight contests, and, as such, are +119 home underdogs against a rolling Detroit Red Wings team that has won five of their last six outings (5-1-0).
Jonsson-Fjallby is the odd man out as the Jets are opting to dress seven defensemen on Monday. He is yet to register a point in eight games this season.
Stanley will play for the first time since November 17th as the Jets opt to play seven defensemen against the Hurricanes on Monday. He has no points in three games this season.
In his first full season with the Jets, Niederreiter is pacing for his best offensive output in over five years and has been rewarded with a three-year, $12 million contract extension. Niederreiter has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 23 games and is firing 2.7 shots on goal per game, the largest volume of his career and well above his career average of 2.0 shots per game. He has played this season predominantly on the third line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.
