Team USA appears to have avoided a hit to its blue line.
Florida Panthers defenceman Seth Jones is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury but is expected to return before the Olympics, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters on Monday.
Jones was injured during the Winter Classic on Friday when he absorbed a shot up high early in the first period and was forced to exit the contest.
Ahead of puck drop, Jones was among the players honoured for being named to Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Panthers and U.S. teammate Matthew Tkachuk draped an American flag over his shoulders during the in-stadium celebration.
Jones entered Friday's action with six goals, 24 points and a minus-2 across 39 contests.
A veteran of 13 NHL seasons, Jones landed with the Panthers at last year's trade deadline in a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. He went on to provide Florida's D-corps with a significant boost on its way to a Stanley Cup victory.
The Panthers, who sit fourth in the Atlantic Division at 22-16-3, return to action Tuesday when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT).
