WINNIPEG — Desperate times call for desperate measures.
A day after suffering yet another loss, the Winnipeg Jets brought back goalie Ondrej Pavelec. It’s a move the team hopes fixes its crisis in the crease.
“We’ve struggled in our net and we’ve got to win hockey games,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. “Pavelec is playing well. It’s time for him to get into the net.”
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Pavelec was the starting goaltender for the Jets since they moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta. He was sent to the minors at the end of this season’s training camp.
“I have always said I can play in the NHL,” Pavelec said. “Here it is. I’ve got the chance to prove to myself that I’m an NHL goalie.”
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The Jets have allowed a league-high 144 goals this season with Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson in net. Winnipeg’s 0.899 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average are the worst the team has recorded since relocating.
“We’re going to be better,” Hellebuyck said “We’re going to work even harder now. If this is the push we needed, it’s definitely a pretty big push.”
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The Jets don’t know how long they’ll go with three goalies but say it isn’t part of their future.
“I think it’s a positive to give Hellebuyck and myself some time to work on our game and get back to feeling really good about it,” Hutchinson said.
Pavelec will start in goal on Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes.
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