17°c Partly cloudy
12°c Cloudy with showers
WINNIPEG JETS
Record: 24 – 21 – 3
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Wheeler shakes off pain, Jets breathe sigh of relief
Speedster blocks shot, bounces back
TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A whole passel of Jets are on hand to help as Blake Wheeler (third-left) limps off the ice after blocking a shot in the second period.
THE game was a write-off but it appears the Winnipeg Jets dodged a major injury bullet on Saturday afternoon.
Blake Wheeler blocked a John Erskine slapshot with his leg mid-way through the game and could not pick himself up off the ice.
The short-term bad news was plural.
The Caps scored on the play -- with Wheeler lying on the ice -- with Matt Hendricks' re-direct goal turning out to be the winner.
And Wheeler had to be helped off by the Jets' training staff.
He returned to try a shift later in the period, but was clearly labouring.
The Jets even advised press row that the speedy winger would not return to the game.
Appeared
But lo and behold, Wheeler appeared for the third period and was game for the final 20 minutes.
He wound up playing a total of 15 minutes. He received credit for a blocked shot from the official NHL statistical staff (he had two on the game) but also recorded a minus while he was incapacitated on the ice.
Wheeler was not available to speak to reporters following the game because he was receiving treatment, but Jets coach Claude Noel said that his front-line forward was likely to be OK in the coming days.
"I think he's OK," Noel said. "He took that shot on the side of his leg. "I was probably thinking like 15,000 other people. It looked like he was in pain, but nothing more than that. I was hoping that they wouldn't score because they were now on the power play... and they did."
Noel described the injury as likely a "heavy-duty bone contusion."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 3, 2013 B2
More Winnipeg Jets
- Back to Top
- Return to Winnipeg Jets
More Winnipeg Jets
(1 of 3 articles for this month)
Vigneault will be a man in demand
05/23/2013 1:00 AM 0View Related
Poll
Most Popular Winnipeg Jets
- Vigneault will be a man in demand
- Catching up with the Jets
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Kane's days are numbered in 'Peg
- Buff just 'sitting around a lot' now
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- Scheifele’s dominance makes Jets look wise
- Jets sign defenceman
- The Great Canadian Hockey Quiz
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Catching up with the Jets
- Vigneault will be a man in demand
- Ready for prime time
- Kane's days are numbered in 'Peg
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- Buff just 'sitting around a lot' now
- Jokinen says Jets a good fit for him
- Jets sign defenceman
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- Enough of Buff: Get rid of him
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- For first time, Jets GM Cheveldayoff is poised to put stamp on the franchise
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Young prospects will get every opportunity to stick with the big club: Cheveldayoff
- It's broke - Fix it
- Jets' playoff hopes dealt fatal blow
- This end-of-season scenario old, and Jets fans and players know it
- It's lucky 13 for the Winnipeg Jets at NHL draft
- Scheifele’s dominance makes Jets look wise
- Enough of Buff: Get rid of him
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- It's broke - Fix it
- Vigneault will be a man in demand
- Summer could be a sizzler
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- For first time, Jets GM Cheveldayoff is poised to put stamp on the franchise
- Jets' playoff hopes dealt fatal blow
- Ondrej Pavelec needs to be even better for Jets to contend
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.