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Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele out with knee injury

The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, March 5, 2014 4:02PM EST

Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) is hurt on the ice against the New York Islanders during second period NHL hockey action in Winnipeg, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (Trevor Hagan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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WINNIPEG -- Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele will be out of the lineup for at least a few weeks due to a knee injury.

The 20-year-old centre was injured in Tuesday night's 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. Scheifele suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament and his status will be updated again in a few weeks, head coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday.

"There's not going to be any surgery required," Maurice told reporters. "I think that's a real positive for us in a difficult situation. But it turned out to be a better morning than I was thinking I was going to hear."

Scheifele has 13 goals and 21 assists in 63 games this season.

The Kitchener, Ont., native was selected by the Jets with the seventh overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

"He's been such a key part of our success lately," said forward Blake Wheeler. "His play has been something to really be excited about for everyone in the organization and everyone in our city.

"It's going to be tough to replace (him). We're going to have to find a way to add some of the elements that he brings to our lineup and just hope that he can heal as quick as possible."

Later Wednesday, the Jets announced that they signed defenceman Mark Stuart to a four-year, US$10.5-million contract.

Entering Wednesday night's games, the Jets and Phoenix Coyotes were one point behind the eighth-place Dallas Stars in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.