Winnipeg Jets’ playoff push suffers blow with Byfuglien out 2-4 weeks

WINNIPEG – Dustin Byfuglien will be out of the Jets lineup for two to four weeks after he was injured in Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators, head coach Paul Maurice said Friday morning after practice.

Byfuglien suffered an upper-body injury in the Jets’ home loss to the Senators. The versatile defenceman, who has also been tapped to play forward as the Jets battled injuries, is a key part of a team’s hope to secure a spot in the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since returning to Winnipeg.

READ MORE: Andrew Hammond, Ottawa Senators beat Winnipeg Jets 3-1

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The team’s no.1 forward and leading scorer Bryan Little is also out with an injury. He anticipates Little will miss the first half of the Jets’ four-game road trip, which starts against the Nashville Predators Saturday. With Little out, Eric O’Dell has been recalled from the American Hockey League’s St. John’s IceCaps.

Andrew Ladd also missed Friday’s practice but Maurice said he’d play Saturday. Mark Stuart also took a puck to the face during practice but his teammates believe he will be fine.

READ MORE: Jets move Byfuglien from defence to forward