Jets’ Josh Morrissey leaves Game 6 vs. Stars with lower-body injury

Winnipeg Jets’ defenseman Josh Morrissey struggled to get off the ice in Game 6 against the Dallas Stars Saturday night after getting tangled up with Mikko Rantanen near the end of the second period.

The incident took place after Morrissey and Rantanen battled for a puck in the corner, with Morrissey falling awkwardly. He got up slowly and gingerly left the ice, needing help to get to the locker room.

It’s the second time in the series that Morrissey has been forced to miss a chunk of a game due to injury, as the Jets’ blueliner did not play in Game 1 after suffering an injury in Game 7 of Winnipeg’s first-round series against the St. Louis Blues.

In his four games against Dallas, Morrissey has three assists and is averaging nearly 24 minutes of ice time per game. In 11 playoff games this spring, the 30-year-old defender has six assists and is averaging 21:41 of ice time.

During the regular season, Morrissey, a 13th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, finished with 14 goals and 48 assists for 62 points in 80 games. It was the third straight season that Morrissey recorded at least 60 points in an NHL campaign.

Now in 10 NHL seasons, Morrissey has 80 goals and 293 assists for 373 points in 662 career regular-season games. He also has appeared in 53 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring five goals and 15 assists for 20 points.

The Jets went into Saturday night down 3-2 to the Stars. If they win, it will force a series-deciding Game 7 on Monday in Winnipeg.