Scheifele to return in Jets bout against Pittsburgh after sitting out 6 games with injury

The Winnipeg Jets activated centre Mark Scheifele from injured reserve hours before their game Tuesday night inPittsburgh.

Scheifele entered the contest leading the Jets with 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 41 games despite missing Winnipeg's last six contests with a lower-body injury.

He was expected to centre Winnipeg's first line between wingersKyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi, according to a social media post by the Jets. Conner returned to the Jets lineup in mid-January after missing more than a month with a knee injury.

Forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby was placed on waivers in a corresponding move.

The Jets entered the game third in the NHL's Central Division, but having lost three straight.

Scheifele is in the first year of a seven-year, US$59.5 million contract.

Forward Sean Monahan, who Winnipeg acquired from Montreal on Friday, was expected to make his Jets debut centring the second line between Cole Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers.