Winnipeg Jets center Bryan Little out for remainder of season

Winnipeg Jets center Bryan Little is out for the rest of the season with a fractured vertebrae, coach Paul Maurice said Thursday.

Little suffered the injury when he was hit by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman in the second period of a game on Feb. 18.

There was no penalty for the hit, and Maurice was ejected for arguing with referee Francois St. Laurent.

Little has 42 points (17 goals) in 57 games this season. He is second on the team in scoring.