Scheifele, Stafford, Burmistrov return to Jets practice

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This article was published 22/01/2016 (3527 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets are in desperate need of some good news out of sick bay, and if Friday’s practice at MTS Centre was any indication, that may come sooner than later.

Orange, non-contact jerseys marked the return to practice for Mark Scheifele, Drew Stafford and Alex Burmistrov. Stafford has missed the last three games for the Jets with an undisclosed injury, while Burmistrov was a game-time scratch against the Nashville Predators Thursday night with an ailment that also has not been made public. Both Stafford and Burmistrov are the closest to a return, said head coach Paul Maurice, and further evaluation will determine whether they’ll be available against the New Jersey Devils Saturday night.

“It feels good,” said Stafford after the skate. “Not sure yet about tomorrow but I’ve definitely been making progress over the last few days.”

As for Scheifele, who has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury, he’ll remain skating but is unlikely to return against the Devils. He joins fellow centreman Adam Lowry, who has been out with an upper-body injury since a 5-4 overtime win against Nashville Jan. 14, and goalie Ondrej Pavelec as players with an undetermined timeline for a return to game action.

Pavelec also returned to practice but was limited to only a few drills. Pavelec addressed the media after for the first time since a knee injury sidelined him for two months; the result of a collision with Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan in a 3-2 win back on Nov. 21.

“It’s going good, following the process,” he said. “Slowly getting back and it’s good to be on the ice with the guys, that’s for sure. It’s been a long two months.”

Pavelec said he’s been feeling good and has full motion, but is in need of getting back some of that game-like feel, including taking shots and reading different plays.

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“I can’t have one practice and then expect to feel great,” added Pavelec. “It’s been a long two months without shots…I’m just happy to be back on the ice.”

Pavelec called the incident in which he was hurt a “scary accident” but is grateful the injury wasn’t worse.

“Those things happen,” said Pavelec. “Nobody wants to do it on purpose, that’s for sure, but he knows what he’s supposed to do or he knows what happened. I don’t think he wants to do it, I don’t think so. The game is so quick, the speed is really, really, really high…I’m not the first guy it’s happened to.”

Also of note from practice is the movement of Dustin Byfuglien from the blue-line to the front of the net on the team’s first power-play unit. Taking his place is Nikolaj Ehlers, who will play the point along with Tyler Myers. Joining Byfuglien up front is Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little.

“Just goals and a little change of focus on what we’re trying to accomplish on it,” said Maurice.

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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