Jets Injuries Have Been A Challenge To Overcome

Considering all the injuries the Jets have had to deal with the last month or so, that they’ve managed to go 3-1-1 on this recent road tip hasn’t been to shabby at all. It’s hard to say which seems more daunting for the Jets to overcome right now. Is it the sheer number of players who are hurt? Or is it the level of talent that the Jets are having to make due without.

Winnipeg is missing its number one center and defenseman. They are also missing their top defensive and number three center. Take that away from most NHL teams and they’d struggle to put together wins.

Throw in the fact the Jets are also missing two more regulars on defense, have been without their regular backup goaltender (who honestly was signed in the summer to be their number one or at the very least “1A” guy) for a good majority of the season, and a few other bumps and bruises along with a case of the flu hanging around the team…

The the Jets have still managed to be 6-3-1 over their last ten games is kinda remarkable really.

Mark Scheifele – Has been skating with the team in a non-contact jersey the last few days and coach Paul Maurice has mentioned on Monday that “he’s feeling better”. The Jets are not going to rush him back and he’s considered “day to day” and it’s likely he could return this weekend.

Jacob Trouba – Also skating with the club and also someone the Jets will not rush back with the big picture of playoffs in mind. He was last in the Jets lineup back on Janurary 25. He could be back in the Jets lineup as early as Thursday when the Jets are back home.

Adam Lowry – He just graduated to being in a full contact jersey for practices after spending the last while in a non-contact jersey. The Jets had been hopefully he’d be back by now, but again, caution being the word of the day with this team and injuries, he may be looking at a return of next week. He’s been out since February 1.

Steve Mason – It’s been a season from hell for Mase who did pick up a shutout in New York a little over a week ago, but now has had his knee scoped and will be out again another 2-3 weeks.

Dmitry Kulikov – Out with an upper body injury. He was sent back to Winnipeg for further evaluation and there is a bit of a shroud of mystery around him at this moment, but you can almost be certain that if it was serious enough to be sent back home before the team, he could be out at least two to three weeks.

Tobias Enstrom – The quiet defensive stalwart has also had an uncharacteristic injury filled season, but looks to be close to be back into the lineup and could even be put in there as early as tonight against the Predators.

Matt Hendricks – Was on the awkward end of a cross check after a faceoff and it looked like his leg got bent in the wrong position. His status for Tuesday’s game against Nashville is up in the air as of press time, but even if he plays, he won’t be fully healthy.

Mathieu Perreault – Has been fighting off the flu and while he hasn’t missed any games, his game likely hasn’t been at 100%. Perreault is the most well known case on the team of having the flu, so one has to wonder what other Jets have been fighting off illness of some sort.

Bryan Little – He was in the lineup last night against Washington which is a little bit surprising considering the wicked slash he took to the back of his leg at the end of the game against Philadelphia on Saturday…

Shawn Matthias – Close to a return himself after dealing with an upper body injury since January 12. He’s been cleared but it’s been noted that the team would like him to get in a lot more practice time with the club before a return.

Typically around playoff time an NHL club will always have a list a mile long of injuries and bumps and bruises, but it’s a bit alarming to see such a list with a month to go before the playoffs.

The Jets have held on well enough and after tonight’s game in Nashville, the Jets get the next four at home, so here is hoping that time away from the grind of being on the road (even though travel on the east coast is slightly better than if this had been a grind through southwest United States) and it helps get the Jets closer to their regular lineup before the regular season’s end.