Ondrej Pavelec out until at least January with 'significant' knee sprain

The NHL’s most interesting sixth-place team, as per Sean McIndoe, will go with the goaltending tandem of Michael Hutchinson and Connor Hellebuyck until at least January, possibly longer.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice announced on Monday that Ondrej Pavelec has been placed on injury reserve with a “significant” knee sprain.

For now, it’s Hutchinson’s net.

“(Hutchinson) has been training for this. He knows he's going to get the opportunity to play a bunch of games in a row,” Maurice said Sunday, via the Winnipeg Free Press. “It’s a little bit different mindset, but it's the one he had prior to getting to this level.”

Hutchinson has been given eight starts for the Jets and posted a .918 even strength save percentage. Meanwhile, down in the AHL, Hellebuyck has posted a .927 save percentage in 10 starts for the Manitoba Moose.

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Through 21 games, the Jets are two points out of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The absence of the much-maligned Pavelec could be a blessing in disguise as the team will get a good look at what the highly-though of Hellebuyck can do and likely receive better production from their crease.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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