Trouba’s two-game suspension felt longer

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This article was published 02/03/2017 (3172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JACOB Trouba says he is eager to get into the lineup for what will be his first game in two weeks when the Winnipeg Jets play host to the St. Louis Blues at the MTS Centre tonight.

“It felt extra long with that break in there,” Trouba said Thursday, referring his two-game suspension falling on either side of the Jets’ five-day bye week.

Trouba rejoined blue-line partner Josh Morrissey during Thursday’s practice.

The young defenceman hasn’t played since Feb. 19 after being assessed a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone. Stone had to leave the game and the Jets went on to win 3-2.

Trouba, who served a minor penalty after hitting Stone, was summoned to a hearing with the league the next day and grounded for games against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Feb. 21) and Minnesota Wild (Tuesday) — both losses.

“Every team has kind of run into some trouble coming off the break,” Trouba said.

“That all goes out the window; this is a pretty big game coming up here and it’s one we need.”

Heading into Thursday’s games, the Jets sat five points shy of the Blues, who have two games in hand, for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Jets were unable to add any extra pieces as Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline came and went, but are getting two bodies back from injury. Forwards Andrew Copp (upper body) and Marko Dano (lower body) are both expected to be in the lineup against St. Louis.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice also said Ondrej Pavelec will be one of the two goalies tonight, but wouldn’t reveal who the starter will be or whether Connor Hellebuyck or Michael Hutchinson would watch from the press box.

Since the Jets are carrying three goalies at the moment, Hellebuyck sat out practice Thursday and instead worked with goalie coach Wade Flaherty before the team took the ice.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton