Josh Morrissey Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Jets defenseman lifted from Game 3 with lower-body injury

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 4/22/23

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey made a very early exit from Game 3 of his team’s first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights after suffering a lower-body injury.

Morrissey logged just 1:14 over two shifts in the first period of Saturday’s playoff game. The injury in question came when he awkwardly collided with Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud during his first shift; after briefly returning to the ice for a power play opportunity two minutes later, Morrissey left the game for good.

The Jets officially ruled Morrissey out for the rest of Game 3 shortly after the start of the first intermission.

INJURY UPDATE: #NHLJets D – Josh Morrissey will not return to today’s game due to a lower body injury.
— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) April 22, 2023

Morrissey, 28, emerged as a Norris Trophy candidate during his breakout 2022–23 regular season, collecting 16 goals and 76 points while averaging 24:14 in 78 games with the Jets.

Winnipeg originally selected Morrissey in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. The six-foot defenseman, who shoots lefty, subsequently made his NHL debut with the Jets during the 2015–16 campaign.

Morrissey appeared in 16 playoff games while operating in a top-four role with the Jets during their run to the 2018 Western Conference Final, but had never truly emerged as the No. 1 heir apparent to the departed Dustin Byfuglien until this year.

Through his first six full NHL seasons, Morrissey recorded 166 points in 366 games. He collected nearly half that many points in just 78 games with the Jets in 2022–23.

Following Morrissey's Game 3 exit, Winnipeg was down to just five healthy defensemen. Dylan DeMelo, Neal Pionk, Brenden Dillon, Dylan Samberg, and Nate Schmidt will have to hold the fort while the Jets and their fans wait for an update on Morrissey’s status.

Game 4 between the Jets and Golden Knights is slated for Monday, April 24, at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Morrissey’s availability for that contest could very well sway the trajectory of the series, which is currently tied at one game apiece. The Golden Knights lead Game 3 by a 4–1 score early in the third period as of this posting.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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