Jets’ Josh Morrissey, Connor Hellebuyck won’t play versus Blues on Saturday

Two of the Winnipeg Jets‘ biggest stars are taking a bit of a break.

With NHL action set to resume this weekend following the conclusion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Jets will take on the Central Division rival St. Louis Blues but will do so without starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morrissey in the lineup, Jets head coach Scott Arniel confirmed to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press on Friday.

Hellebuyck will see a break in action following three showings with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in which he went 2-1-0 with a .932 save percentage and 1.59 goals-against average en route to the championship final, a continuation of his dominant showing with Winnipeg this season where through 43 appearances he has posted a 34-7-2 record with a .925 save percentage, 2.07 goals-against average, and six shutouts.

In Hellebuyck’s absence, Eric Comrie will start versus the Blues on Saturday while Kaapo Kahkonen will handle the backup duties.

For Morrissey, the defenseman remains sidelined with an illness that kept him out of Thursday’s championship final at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Through 56 appearances with the Jets this season, the 29-year-old Calgary native has notched seven goals and 39 assists to rank fifth in team scoring and first among defensemen with 46 points.

While Hellebuyck and Morrissey are sidelined, the Jets expect Kyle Connor to return to the lineup after skating with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Through three appearances at the inaugural tournament, the 28-year-old Michigan native finished with one assist. On the season, Connor headlines the Jets with 69 points in 56 games.

The Jets are also expected to see the return of captain Adam Lowry who missed eight games prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off due to an upper-body ailment. Through 48 appearances this season, Lowry has notched 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points.