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Jets could be without Mason Saturday
By
KEN WIEBE, QMI Agency
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  Winnipeg Jets goaltender Chris Mason. (JASON HALSTEAD/QMI Agency) |
There was no sign of goalie Chris Mason on the ice as the Winnipeg Jets skated at the Tampa Bay Lightning practice rink in preparation for Saturday’s game.
Mason came on in relief of Ondrej Pavelec early in the third period of Thursday’s 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Flyers but was removed less than five minutes later after suffering a groin injury.
Jets head coach Claude Noel said initially that the injury wasn’t serious enough that a goalie would need to be recalled, but if Mason can’t go, Peter Mannino would likely get the nod.
Noel is expected to provide an update on Mason’s status after practice.
Mannino is 2-2 with a 2.47 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and one shutout in four games with the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League.
Also on the injury front, defenceman Derek Meech suffered a lower-body injury in practice on Wednesday and didn’t accompany the Jets on this seven-game trip, the longest of the season.
The Jets (3-5-1) are looking to post consecutive victories for the first time this season, while the Lightning (4-4-2) lost 5-3 to the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
The Jets also announced that centre Aaron Gagnon has cleared waivers and had been assigned to the IceCaps.
