Connor Hellebuyck shut down the St. Louis Blues — again.
Hellebuyck made 34 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist in the Winnipeg Jets’ 4-0 victory Friday night.
Hellebuyck has three shutouts in six career games against St. Louis.
The good news for the Wings is that it’s not a displaced fracture, so Mantha isn’t expected to miss any games, although he will be required to wear a full face shield.
“It is difficult,” Mantha said of wearing the face mask. “When you look down to try to find the puck between your legs, the lower part is kind of weird, but I guess you get used to it.”
The Wings are also expecting to get defenseman Mike Green back for Saturday’s game. Green has missed the last four games due to an upper-body injury.
“He skated today,” Blashill said Friday. “He felt good, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. But I would say he’s a game-time decision.”
How many more games Green will play as a Wing is another decision that must be made soon. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and Monday is the trade deadline.
On Thursday, the Panthers faced the Washington Capitals — Florida’s first home game since the Feb. 14 shooting. There was a moment of silence before the game as well as an extended tribute featuring video and speakers, similar to what the Vegas Golden Knights produced for their Oct. 10 home opener after a mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip that month.
Seventeen people died when a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which is about 10 miles from the Panthers’ arena in Sunrise and just less than four miles from their practice facility in Coral Springs. Many Panthers employees and players — including goalie Roberto Luongo and captain Derek MacKenzie — live in the neighborhood and have children enrolled in the school district.
Luongo, a Parkland resident, gave an emotional statement about the bravery of those who lost their lives trying to save others and how inspiring the students have been coping with the tragedy.
“The first 10 minutes of the game was very difficult. I was not in a zone, that’s a good way to put it. Emotions were still running high from the ceremony,” said Luongo, who lives in Parkland, where the shooting occurred.
