Scheifele still a ways away from game action

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This article was published 31/01/2018 (2830 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He was flying around the ice, looking every bit like a player who can’t wait to get back in the lineup.

Mark Scheifele, the No. 1 centre on the Winnipeg Jets, returned to a full team practice Wednesday exactly five weeks to the day he went down with a major shoulder injury expected to sideline him between six and eight weeks. He was wearing a yellow no-contact jersey but was a full participant in drills.

“It seems like he’s healing fast, and it’s definitely a good sign when he’s out there skating with the team,” centre Bryan Little said following the skate. “I had no idea how good he was doing. I haven’t seen him much lately because he’s been doing his own thing. But to have him out here, see him shooting the puck and taking one-timers, it seems like he’s coming along really well. Believe me, it’s going to be nice when we get him back. That adds a whole other threat to our lineup.”

Winnipeg has gone 9-2-2 in the 13 games Scheifele has missed. In eight of those games they also were without the services of No. 3 centre Adam Lowry, who returned to action Tuesday.

“It hasn’t been easy losing a guy like (Scheifele). That’s a huge hole. But I think this year, more than any other year, we’re showing how much depth we’ve got and how effective we are when guys do go down, other guys stepping up and filling in those roles,” Little said.

Coach Paul Maurice said it was encouraging to see Scheifele “moving pretty darn well.”

“But he’ll stay where he is for I think at least another week before we start banging him around for a little bit. But he’s on track, so we’re positive there,” Maurice said.

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There was another good sign on the injury front Wednesday.

Defenceman Dmitry Kulikov shed his no-contact jersey in favour of a regular one and could be ready to return tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. He missed the past two games after being hit from behind Jan. 23 in San Jose.

Maurice revealed Wednesday that Kulikov had suffered a concussion.

“We’ll make that decision (today) based on having really not pushed himself for a week and see how he comes back after being pushed,” said Maurice.

Blueliner Toby Enstrom missed practice Wednesday but will play. If Kulikov returns, he would push either Ben Chiarot or Tucker Poolman to the press box. It would be a big addition for a group expected to be without Jacob Trouba for up to two months after he hurt his ankle last week in Anaheim.

The new top pairing of Josh Morrissey and Tyler Myers, along with the second group of Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien, logged heavy minutes in Tuesday’s 3-1 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be leaned on, and having Kulikov back in the mix will help.

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Winnipeg’s penalty kill, long a hindrance to the team’s pursuit of overall excellence, has cracked the top 10 in the NHL.

The unit had a perfect night Tuesday, going four-for-four against the high-scoring Lightning, and was a key element in a tidy victory over the league’s top team. The Jets have a season-best 82.6 per cent efficiency on the PK, which puts them ninth overall. They’ve been even better on home ice at 85.9 per cent, fifth in the league.

To put that in perspective, Winnipeg’s efficiency when down a man was just 26th last year at 77.5 per cent, and 25th the year before at 78.4 per cent.

One of the key contributors has been speedy forward Brandon Tanev. His defensive game was on display against the Lightning — he broke up a breakaway, generated plenty of offensive chances and even drew a couple of penalties.

“It’s just having more confidence with the puck, understanding situations when you have more time to make a play or when a simple play needs to be done,” Tanev said. “I think that all comes with more time in the league and having your teammates and your coaches trust you more.”

Tanev has four goals and eight assists in 44 games this season. He had two goals and two assists in 51 games last season.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg