The Winnipeg Jets suffered a late blow on Saturday night.
Josh Morrissey missed practice Sunday and is day-to-day as a result of a hit he took in their 4-3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, head coach Scott Arniel told reporters.
The Jets led 3-2 entering the last minute when Morrissey followed the puck around his own net into a scrum when he was shoved from behind into the boards by Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek.
After play continued with no penalty, Jets teammate Dylan DeMelo noticed the hit and retaliated moments later with a shot to the back of Eriksson Ek in front of the net, but was handed a two-minute infraction for cross-checking.
Winnipeg head coach Scott Arniel was visibly incensed on the Jets bench by the non-call seconds prior, screaming at officials as Minnesota called a timeout.
After the game, Arniel confirmed that he was upset by the call on DeMelo when Morrissey had been thrown to the ice by a similar hit.
“That was a terrible non-call on Josh Morrissey. Absolute terrible non-call," Arniel said. "It should have been called. Head-first into the boards. And then a ticky-tack little call after that.”
The Wild went on the score with the man advantage, as Mats Zuccarello evened the game at three and sent it to overtime.
In the extra frame, Matt Boldy netted the game-winner, adding further insult to injury for the Jets, who came inches from a win.
“Any other top players in the league, elite players, get hit from behind into the boards, I’m pretty sure that’s a penalty,” Arniel continued.
The Jets host the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, while the Wild head to Vegas to face the Golden Knights.
