After back-to-back losses, the Winnipeg Jets will face the Florida Panthers on Saturday but it remains to be seen if forward Bryan Little will be available for that game, or, if he doesn’t play, how long he could be out for.
Little missed the rest of the game and was sent for x-rays on his neck but was able to travel with the team to Fort Lauderdale Thursday night. The Jets will play the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday. The team was off Friday so there were no updates available on the injury.
Little left Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning late in the second period after he was on the receiving end of a controversial Anton Stralman hit, leaving the Jets leading goal scorer injured on the ice.
There was no penalty for the initial hit, which enraged Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice, who was eventually tossed from the game seconds after he came back onto the bench to begin the third period.
There was no hearing for Stralman, the league confirmed Friday.
In 57 games this season, Little leads the Jets with 17 goals. He’s also second on the team in points with 42.