Morrissey set a new career-high in points (31) despite playing in just 59 games in 2019. With Jacob Trouba now in New York, Morrissey is expected to handle the PP2 duties in 2020, which gives him a potential boost in value. He should be viewed as a reserve fantasy defenseman heading into drafts.
The Jets acquired Pionk from the Rangers as a part of the Jacob Trouba trade and signed the RFA defenseman to a two-year contract. Pionk had six goals and 20 assists (26 points) in 73 games last season and will likely open the 2020 season on the Jets second or third pairing.
Fleury split the 2019 campaign between the AHL and NHL but is set to become a full-time NHLer in 2020. Fleury had just one assist in 20 NHL games a year ago but brings great size (6-foot-3, 208 lbs.) and excellent skating ability to the Hurricanes bottom-4.
Pionk had six goals and 20 assists (26 points) in 73 games with the Rangers in his first full NHL season in 2018-19. Like Trouba, Pionk is also a restricted free agent on July 1st, but will command a lot less money and will allow the Jets to get Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor this offseason. Winnipeg loses a top-pairing defenseman and get a player who looks like nothing more than a third-pairing player with modest offensive-upside.
Nyquist’s wife gave birth to their child in Detroit but Nyquist is expected to be back for Game 3 in Colorado. Nyquist has performed well for the Sharks in the postseason, scoring one goal on 10 shots with three assists in nine games.
Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Jets loss to the Blues in Game 5. The Jets fell apart in the third period and are now one loss away from being eliminated from the postseason. The road team has won every game in this series so the Jets hope that trend continues tonight in St. Louis—Hellebuyck has stopped 57 of 61 shots (.934 SV%) in their two road games in this series.
Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Jets 6-3 win in St. Louis in Game 3. Hellebuyck hasn’t had the greatest series, allowing nine goals on 87 shots (.897 SV%) but the Jets are down just 2-1 after three games. Hellebuyck is 3-0-1 in his last four road starts and will look to stay hot in a pivotal Game 4.
Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Jets 4-3 loss to the Blues in Game 2. Hellebuyck has allowed six goals on 58 shots (.897 SV%) through two games and now the Jets find themselves down 2-0 on the road. Hellebuyck was 15-11-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .913 SV% in 30 appearances on the road this season.
The Jets struggled at 5v5 more than they have in the past and it resulted in Hellebuyck’s numbers falling off from 2018. Now he draws a tough first-round assignment against a Blues team that has been the best team in the NHL since January 1st. Hellebuyck was 2-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .942 SV% vs. St. Louis this season but the last meeting was on December 7th and the Blues are a different team now.
The Jets struggled at 5v5 more than they have in the past and it resulted in Hellebuyck’s numbers falling off from 2018. Now he draws a tough first-round assignment against a Blues team that has been the best team in the NHL since January 1st. Hellebuyck was 2-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .942 SV% vs. St. Louis this season but the last meeting was on December 7th and the Blues are a different team now.
Morrissey has been out since February 24th but is set to be back for Game 1 vs. the Blues. Morrissey will be back on the top-pairing with Jacob Trouba and has six goals and 25 assists (31 points) in 59 games this season.
Hellebuyck gave up three goals on 28 shots in the Jets win in Chicago on Monday. The snapped a three-game losing streak for Hellebuyck, who will face the Avalanche for the fifth time this season—he is 2-2-0 with a 4.27 GAA and .888 SV% in the first four meetings, so this could be a high-scoring game.
Fleury will re-enter the Hurricanes lineup on Tuesday with Calvin de Haan back in Carolina undergoing further evaluation on an upper-body injury that he suffered on Sunday. Fleury has one assist in 17 NHL games and 10 points (2G / 8A) in 28 AHL games this season.
