Pavelec possibly out through December, Hellebuyck to see NHL time
Ondrej Pavelec has been placed on injury reserve with a knee sprain. The injury is expected to knock Pavelec out of the lineup through December, and possibly for a longer period of time.
Pavelec suffered the knee injury after colliding with Arizona Coyotes forward Shane Doan in the 3-2 win on Saturday. Pavelec was reportedly seen on crutches following the game.
Pavelec has a .906 save percentage and a 2.82 goals against average in 15 games this season.
With Pavelec's injury, Michael Hutchinson should take command of the starting goaltending position for the foreseeable future. Hutchinson is humming along with a .915 save percentage and a 2.69 goals against average in 10 games.
But the injury development poses a further intriguing development. The Jets were forced to call up 22-year-old Connor Hellebuyck, who is seen as a big part in the future of the Jets netminding. Should Hellebuyck suit up, he will be the lone North American goaltender under the age of 23 to man the crease. That makes him a prime candidate to fill the goaltender position for Team North America in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Hellebuyck, who won the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA's top goaltender with UMass-Lowell in the 2013-14 season, has dazzled in the last year. Earlier this season, Hellebuyck played in eight games for Team USA in the World Championships, leading the tournament with the highest save percentage (.948) and the lowest goals against average (1.37), earning himself a spot on the World Championship All-Star team and a bronze medal. And this year in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, Hellebuyck's .927 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average in 10 games is among the league's best.
Hutchinson is expected to start in the Jets' next game against the Colorado Avalanche.
