Pionk has been out since January 13th, but the Jets have cleared the way for him to return to the lineup vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday. Pionk enters the game with just eight points (2G / 6A) in 40 games this season.
Pionk has been sidelined since mid-January, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at morning skate on Thursday. The Jets, who are making a late-season push for a Wild Card spot, would greatly benefit from Pionk returning to the lineup. The 30-year-old defenseman was averaging 22:47 time-on-ice, recording eight points (2G / 6A), 64 blocks, and 84 hits in 40 games before his injury.
The Jets continue to hover around reaching distance of a Wild Card spot and could desperately use Hellebuyck to return to the form that helped him win three Vezina trophies in order to get them an extra boost. That said, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has struggled with consistency this season. He allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators, giving him a pedestrian 2.63 GAA and .902 SV% in nine games (4-2-3) since returning from the Olympic break. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three of its last four games (1-1-2).
The Jets continue to hover around reaching distance of a Wild Card spot and could desperately use Hellebuyck to return to the form that helped him win three Vezina trophies in order to get them an extra boost. That said, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has struggled with consistency this season. He allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators, giving him a pedestrian 2.63 GAA and .902 SV% in nine games (4-2-3) since returning from the Olympic break. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three of its last four games (1-1-2).
Freij was drafted by Winnipeg in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is gearing up to make his professional North American debut in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. The 20-year-old defenseman had 11 points (6G / 5A) this season in 42 games with Timra IK (SweHL).
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Wednesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner snapped a five-game losing streak (0-1-4) in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Penguins, welcoming their leader, Sidney Crosby (lower body), back into the lineup after a multi-week absence, enter Wednesday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that defeated them 5-4 in a shootout less than two weeks ago.
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Wednesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner snapped a five-game losing streak (0-1-4) in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Penguins, welcoming their leader, Sidney Crosby (lower body), back into the lineup after a multi-week absence, enter Wednesday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that defeated them 5-4 in a shootout less than two weeks ago.
Hellebuyck has lost two of his last three (1-2-0), but has played better lately in a mostly disappointing 2025-26 campaign as the Jets continue their late-season push for a Wild Card spot. Since returning from the Olympic break, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed two or fewer goals in five of eight games (4-2-2), posting a 2.61 GAA and .905 SV%. The Jets enter Tuesday's crucial contest as -133 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that is one point ahead of them in the standings.
Hellebuyck has lost two of his last three (1-2-0), but has played better lately in a mostly disappointing 2025-26 campaign as the Jets continue their late-season push for a Wild Card spot. Since returning from the Olympic break, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed two or fewer goals in five of eight games (4-2-2), posting a 2.61 GAA and .905 SV%. The Jets enter Tuesday's crucial contest as -133 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that is one point ahead of them in the standings.
Pionk has been sidelined since mid-January, but appears to be inching closer to a return after returning to practice in a limited capacity on Tuesday. The Jets, who are making a late-season push for a Wild Card spot, would greatly benefit from Pionk returning to the lineup. The 30-year-old defenseman was averaging 22:47 time-on-ice, recording eight points (2G / 6A), 64 blocks, and 84 hits in 40 games before his injury.
Thrun was recalled over the weekend for precautionary measures with Oliver Ekman-Larsson (personal) out of the lineup, but he will head back to the AHL. The 25-year-old Thrun has 20 points (4G / 16A) in 42 games with the Marlies (AHL) this season.
St. Ivany has not played since undergoing surgery on his left hand in late January, but is nearing a return after completing a conditioning stint in the AHL. The 26-year-old defenseman was averaging 15:39 time-on-ice and had seven assists in 17 games before his injury. Alexander Alexeyev has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Hellebuyck has finished every season of his career with a record above .500, but he currently has a 16-17-9 record in a largely disappointing season. That said, the 32-year-old three-time Vezina-winning goalie has returned from his Gold Medal performance with Team USA at the Olympics with some of his most consistent goaltending of the season, posting a stellar 1.99 GAA and .926 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -148 home favourites against a suddenly surging New York Rangers team that has points in six of their last seven games (4-1-2).
Hellebuyck has finished every season of his career with a record above .500, but he currently has a 16-17-9 record in a largely disappointing season. That said, the 32-year-old three-time Vezina-winning goalie has returned from his Gold Medal performance with Team USA at the Olympics with some of his most consistent goaltending of the season, posting a stellar 1.99 GAA and .926 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -148 home favourites against a suddenly surging New York Rangers team that has points in six of their last seven games (4-1-2).
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Tuesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner was lightly tested in his previous outing and had a disappointing performance, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Skinner has a concerning 3.31 GAA and .847 SV% in his last five games (1-1-3). The Penguins enter Tuesday's contest as +183 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Tuesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner was lightly tested in his previous outing and had a disappointing performance, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Skinner has a concerning 3.31 GAA and .847 SV% in his last five games (1-1-3). The Penguins enter Tuesday's contest as +183 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).
Hellebuyck has finished every season of his career with a record above .500, but he currently has a 16-16-9 record in a largely disappointing season. That said, the 32-year-old three-time Vezina-winning goalie has returned from his Gold Medal performance with Team USA at the Olympics with some of his most consistent goaltending of the season, posting a stellar 1.72 GAA and .931 SV% in his last four games (3-0-1). The Jets enter Tuesday's contest as -130 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that defeated them 5-4 less than two weeks ago.
