The Winnipeg Jets were dealt a significant blow this week, as TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck will miss four to six weeks in order to undergo a minor arthroscopic knee procedure.

Hellebuyck was off to another strong start, going 8-6-0 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average through 14 appearances. His injury likely won’t affect his availability for February’s Winter Olympics. Still, it’s a major hurdle for the Jets, who sit at 12-7-0 and had been gaining early momentum in the Central Division.

Winnipeg recalled Thomas Milic from AHL Manitoba to form a temporary tandem with Eric Comrie, who is 4-1-0 with a .908 save percentage this season. The Jets will need both goaltenders to hold the fort until Hellebuyck returns near the end of December.

If anything changes, USA Hockey does have options for the Olympic roster, including Thatcher Demko, Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger, Dustin Wolf, and Joey Daccord.

Alex Ovechkin added another milestone to his legendary résumé Thursday night with a four-point performance against the Montreal Canadiens, pushing him into 10th place all-time in NHL scoring with 1,643 career points.

Ovechkin passed Joe Sakic and now sits behind Sidney Crosby (1,708 points), who is still active. Mario Lemieux is the next closest retired player at 1,723 points.

The 40-year-old winger recorded a hat trick in Washington’s 8-4 win, giving him goals in four straight games and tying Jaromir Jagr and Dean Prentice for the longest streak by a player aged 40 or older.

Ovechkin’s first goal also moved him past Wayne Gretzky for the most non-empty-net goals in league history with 839. The league’s all-time leading goal scorer now has 907 total goals in his career.

The Los Angeles Kings announced Thursday that veteran defenceman Drew Doughty has been placed on injured reserve. Doughty left Saturday’s win over Ottawa after blocking a shot and did not play Monday against Washington.

The 36-year-old has two goals and eight points across 19 games, while still logging over 22 minutes a night and playing in all situations. His absence will be significant for a Kings team that relies heavily on his experience and leadership, especially during a six-game road trip.

Doughty’s injury could also impact his Olympic hopes, as he had been a strong candidate for Team Canada after participating in last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

To help stabilize their depth chart, the Kings recalled goaltender Pheonix Copley, who has yet to play an NHL game this season after being acquired from Tampa Bay.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Andre Burakovsky left Thursday’s game after taking a heavy open-ice hit from Seattle’s Ryan Lindgren. The collision occurred late in the first period, with Burakovsky cutting to the middle on the power play and getting caught with his head down.

He did not return and will also miss the Blackhawks’ next game against the Sabres, according to head coach Jeff Blashill, who also said he believed Lindgren should have been penalized.

Burakovsky has been a strong early-season fit beside Connor Bedard, recording seven goals and 15 points in 18 games since arriving from Seattle in a June trade. The 30-year-old is in the third year of a five-year, $5.5 million contract, and his absence will be felt on a young Hawks team trying to take a step forward.

Winnipeg’s second major headline of the week involved promising forward Brad Lambert. As reported by Frank Seravalli, the Jets have given Lambert and his agent permission to explore trade options.

Lambert, 21, was drafted 30th overall in 2022 and has appeared in just 10 NHL games, scoring one goal and three points. His AHL production dipped last season, going from 55 points as a rookie to 35 points in 2024-25 during a tough year for Manitoba.

Despite the slowdown, Lambert remains a talented prospect with speed and playmaking instincts. With one season left after this year on his ELC, he could draw interest from teams looking for a higher-upside young center.