Antropov may return to ice Friday

By: Ed Tait Posted: 12:53 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011

WINNIPEG - He has left a big, gaping hole in the Winnipeg Jets’ lineup -- a 6-foot-6, 245-pound hole, to be exact.

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WINNIPEG - He has left a big, gaping hole in the Winnipeg Jets’ lineup -- a 6-foot-6, 245-pound hole, to be exact.

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This article was published 08/12/2011 (5053 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – He has left a big, gaping hole in the Winnipeg Jets’ lineup — a 6-foot-6, 245-pound hole, to be exact.

But Nik Antropov may soon be back in action for the Jets, perhaps as early as Friday night when they play host to the Carolina Hurricanes at MTS Centre (7:30 p.m., TSN Jets/TSN Sports Radio).

The Kazak centre has missed the last three games due to injury, but has resumed practicing with the Jets this week.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Nik Antropov skates at practice at the MTS IcePlex Thursday. — WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Nik Antropov skates at practice at the MTS IcePlex Thursday.

“I’ve just skated two times to see how it would react. Tomorrow we’ll see after the morning skate,” said Antropov.

Head coach Claude Noel said a decision to activate Antropov likely won’t be made until Friday night.

“He was a little more tired today so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow in the pre-game skate and make a game-time decision on him. We’re hopeful he’ll be in the game,” Noel said.

Antropov has appeared in 22 of the 27 Jets’ games this season and has registered four goals and added 11 assists. Before the injury he was especially effective centering a line that featured Kyle Wellwood and Andrew Ladd.

“He adds experience, reach, weight, he’s smart, he gives us big minutes and he’s really a big part of whatever line you put him with,” said Noel. “He can handle people down low… he’s really good in a lot of ways, a lot of areas. We’ve missed him.”

The Jets will start Chris Mason in goal against the Hurricanes, a club coming off a victory in Edmonton Wednesday night – their first in five tries under new head coach Kirk Muller — but just 3-6-1 in their last 10 and last overall in the Eastern Conference with a 9-17-4 record.

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @WFPEdTait