Vilardi ready to make return

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This article was published 29/03/2024 (554 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Gabriel Vilardi confessed his knowledge of the spleen was pretty limited prior to his latest medical setback.

The Winnipeg Jets winger is set to make his return to the lineup after missing the past 15 games with an upper-body issue and an enlarged spleen.

“Yeah, never heard of it,” said Vilardi, who made it through his first full practice with his teammates on Friday. “So, I learned a lot.”

As much as Vilardi has learned since he last played against the Dallas Stars on Feb. 29, there are still plenty of unanswered questions, including the root of the enlarged spleen.

“Couldn’t figure it out. Didn’t get an answer on that and I don’t think I ever will in terms of why it got so big. That’s my answer for that,” said Vilardi, noting mononucleosis was ruled out. “We did blood work, didn’t have mono. It was just enlarged. It was weird.

“Yeah, it was a very weird first week when you’re figuring out what was going on,” said Vilardi. “A lot of different symptoms and not a lot of answers. Spent a lot of time in MRI machines CT scans that type of stuff. So yeah, it was weird, but figured it out eventually and now we’re here.”

Where Vilardi will begin is where he left off, on the Jets top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

Vilardi realizes the runway to make up for lost time is short, with nine games left in the regular season, but he’s eager to make an impact.

“This was a little different. Wasn’t able to do much, (or) in the gym as well. It was a good two, two-and-a-half weeks doing not much as opposed to my knee injury, (where) I could do upper-body stuff, kind of stay in shape. This one was different,” said Vilardi, who has 16 goals and 30 points in 38 games this season. “But this past week, I’ve been fortunate enough to feel good. My spleen is back down to normal size and I was able to push myself. Hopefully, I can get up to speed as quickly as I can. There’s no game simulation here. I can practice for a week and it’s not going to simulate a game. I’ve just got to get in there, especially this time of year, everything is happening so fast out there, you’ve got to grind for every goal.”

Jets head coach Rick Bowness is excited to have Vilardi back, but was quick to point out that his playing time will be monitored closely.

“He’s been skating really well. We have been very pleased with his conditioning. He is pain free. He had to get through all of that,” said Bowness. “Will he play a regular shift? No, because he has missed a lot of time. We are going to have to watch his ice time and the length of his shifts and everything else, especially in the first period. We will definitely monitor him very closely, but he is definitely in.”

Vilardi is expected to provide a boost to a power play that’s mired in a zero-for-21 funk, including 0-for-10 through the first two games of this homestand.

“To see him back and healthy and skating with the guys, it’s been huge. He’s a big part of our team, a big part of a lot of areas of our team. It’s obviously awesome to see him back healthy and out there with us,” said Scheifele. “Obviously on the goal line there (on the power play), he’s pretty special down there, whether it’s tipping pucks or making passes, he’s got a special sense down there. That helps a lot.

“It’s everywhere. He’s a big body that likes to play down low with the puck. Likes to go to the dirty areas, and likes to get in front of the net. He’s got some pretty crafty hands around there. He will (provide) a big boost.”

Notes: Jets goalie Connor Hellebuck is in line to make his 500th NHL appearance on Saturday against the Senators. Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey was given a maintenance day on Friday after leading all skaters with 25:55 of ice time in Thursday’s loss to the Golden Knights. Scheifele was surprised he was given an instigator penalty, fighting major and 10-minute misconduct after standing up for Vladislav Namestnikov after he was on the receiving end of a high check from Golden Knights defenceman Nic Hague. “I didn’t understand it,” said Scheifele. “I think the consistency from game to game or call to call is so different. I didn’t think I was going to get an instigator for that. His gloves were off before mine. He kind of knew something was coming. Let’s be honest: I’m not a tough guy. I’m just going in there to step up for a teammate and didn’t think the hit was right. I didn’t think it was clean. I didn’t understand the whole thing, still trying to wrap my head around it. Can’t say much else or I will get in trouble.” The good news for Namestnikov was that he was a full participant on Friday and is expcted to be in the lineup against the Senators.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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