Winnipeg Jets news: Josh Morrissey will not play tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Head coach Scott Arniel indicated after the morning skate that the star defenceman is not ready to return, ending a weekend of hope that Morrissey would play his first game in over a month when the puck drops at 5 p.m. at Canada Life Centre.
By Maplestime Sports Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 8, 2026
Sources: Illegal Curve Hockey | Last updated: November 8, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Josh Morrissey will not play tonight against Tampa Bay, head coach Scott Arniel indicated after the morning skate.
- Morrissey wore a regular jersey at Saturday practice for the first time since his wrist injury on October 7 against Colorado, but Arniel wanted to see how he came through practice before committing.
- Morrissey has played only 4 games this season and has missed 13 games, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg has gone 3 wins, 8 losses and 2 overtime losses without him.
- Elias Salomonsson remains away from the team for personal reasons, and Henry Thrun was recalled from the Moose on an emergency basis on Saturday evening.
- Stuart Skinner is projected to start in net for Winnipeg. Puck drop is 5 p.m. Winnipeg time at Canada Life Centre.
What Arniel Said After the Morning Skate
Illegal Curve Hockey updated its pre-game report after the skate with a short Morrissey update: it looks like Morrissey will not be ready for tonight’s game, based on what Arniel said. The update landed after a Saturday practice that raised real hope around the Jets. Morrissey wore a regular jersey for the first time since he suffered a wrist injury on October 7 against the Avalanche, and he skated beside his usual partner Dylan DeMelo and quarterbacked the top power play unit. Arniel said Saturday he was not prepared to declare Morrissey ready and wanted to see how he came through practice. Sunday brought the answer, and it is not tonight.
An earlier Maplestime morning skate post had Morrissey projected on the top pair with DeMelo. That projection no longer stands.
A Blue Line Still Short Handed
Morrissey’s absence leaves Winnipeg short on the blue line again. Salomonsson missed the game against Vancouver due to illness and will now be away from the team for personal reasons, with no timetable given for his return. The Jets recalled Thrun from the Moose on Saturday evening on an emergency basis. Thrun is 25 and has one goal and six assists for seven points in 13 games with Manitoba this season. Haydn Fleury practiced on Saturday after blocking a shot against Vancouver. The projected defence pairs in the pre-game report still listed Morrissey with DeMelo before the update, so the pairs will need a change. No revised pairs had been published when this post went live.
What Tonight Means for Winnipeg
Winnipeg is 6 wins, 8 losses and 3 overtime losses, and the Jets carry a two game win streak into tonight after a nine game winless run. They erased a 4 goal deficit to beat Montreal 5 to 4 in overtime on Tuesday, then beat Vancouver 6 to 2 on Thursday. Tampa Bay arrives at 11 wins, 3 losses and 2 overtime losses after winning in overtime in Minnesota on Saturday night, so the Lightning play the second half of a back to back. Winnipeg has won its last five home games against Tampa Bay at Canada Life Centre and last lost to the Lightning at home on January 17, 2020. Skinner is projected to start in net for the Jets.
Maplestime will provide updates from the Jets vs Lightning game as announcements are made tonight.
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Do you think the Jets can win a third straight game without Morrissey, or does the blue line need its top defenceman back right now? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian following the Jets tonight.
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