Chiarot out of Jets’ lineup for six weeks after surgery on his hand

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This article was published 23/02/2015 (3872 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Defenceman Ben Chiarot will miss six weeks because of a hand injury, Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice said this afternoon.

Chiarot couldn’t complete Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Toronto. He fought with Toronto’s Daniel Winnik mid-way through the third period and went to the dressing room after spending a few moments in the penalty box.

“Benny’s going to be out for a long period of time, closer to April,” the coach said. “Hand injury. He did have surgery yesterday to have it repaired.”

Then there was a longer explanation of Chiarot’s injury, which is rare from the Jets.

“I’m telling you that to tell you how we handle these injuries,” Maurice said. “We know before Benny come’s back those bones will be 100 per cent healed and that he’ll be at 100 per cent.

“The reason we’re vague with other injuries at times is because you know the guy’s going to come back and have some pain in some areas but that one will be 100 per cent healer before he’s back in the lineup.”

Maurice said this kind of injury typically keeps a player out six weeks.

“Again, he’s not coming back until the doc says that thing is right,” Maurice said.

The loss leaves the Jets with seven healthy defencemen, eight if you include Dustin Byfuglien.

But that wasn’t today. Byfuglien skated in forward colours.

Also missing today’s practice at the MTS Iceplex was right-winger Blake Wheeler, who may still be hobbled by his right knee. He took a shot to the inside of that knee last Thursday in Washington but soldiered through Saturday’s game in Toronto.

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Left-winger Mathieu Perreault is also out long-term, until at least early April the team has said.

To help fill the hole now that Chiarot is out long-term, the Jets recalled C Eric O’Dell from the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps later this afternoon.

O’Dell has 28 points in 37 games for the IceCaps this season. He played 30 games for the Jets late last season, recording seven points.

The Jets, with 71 points, start a four-game homestand on Tuesday night at the MTS Centre against the Dallas Stars, who trail them by eight points.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca