Diving in at every opportunity

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This article was published 12/12/2017 (2831 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tucker Poolman had been chomping at the bit to get back into an NHL game. His coach was hoping to find a way to make it happen. Just not like this.

Poolman was back on the Winnipeg Jets’ blue line Monday night for the first time in almost two months, the result of an injury to Dustin Byfuglien that is expected to keep the star defencemen out at least two weeks. Byfuglien left Saturday’s game in Tampa in the third period and never returned. The exact nature of his ailment hasn’t been disclosed.

“It’s the way it is. That’s the way this always happens. Somebody gets nicked up and you get your chance,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Monday. “Lower body. Week-to-week. Some time just after Christmas is what we’re shooting for.”

It’s a big loss to a defensive corps already missing Toby Enstrom, who has been out for three weeks and is expected to miss at least five more. Byfuglien has no goals in 28 games this season despite scoring 70 over the past four seasons with the Jets.

But he has chipped in with 15 assists and is a big part of a power play that currently ranks fourth in the NHL.

He also leads the Jets in ice time.

“A real physicality, too. He’s really brought that part of his game. He’s worked real hard this year of not being in on every rush. That’s a challenge for him. He’s scaled that back, so I think that’s why his goal numbers are where they’re at,” Maurice said. “That’s a big-minute guy that moves the puck, creates a lot of offence with some of those passes. So yeah, there’s a big hole.”

Poolman, 24, will attempt to help fill it while the other five defencemen — Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey, Tyler Myers, Dmitry Kulikov and Ben Chiarot — are likely to see big jumps in their ice time.

“The other guys on the blue line, every one of them has been looking for a few more minutes. They’ve all felt that window of 22-25 is where their game will excel. So we’ve got lots of guys excited about the chance to play,” Maurice said of the depth he believes will allow his squad to whether the storm.

One player who will definitely play a bigger role is Trouba, who took Byfuglien’s spot on the No. 1 power-play unit.

“Now he gets a chance with what a lot of people consider the A unit. It’s something he’s always wanted. Again, with these injuries there’s three or four guys, maybe five guys on our blue line looking at this as a real good chance to show what they can do,” Maurice said.

Poolman appeared in his first three NHL games in early October, then played seven with the Manitoba Moose after being sent down for some seasoning.

The rookie was recalled by the team after Enstrom got hurt, but Monday marked his first game action in more than three weeks as he’d been a healthy scratch.

“Way more comfortable. For me, knowing your teammates and getting along with them with an inside joke here and there helps you play better,” Poolman said of this most recent stint with the Jets.

“For a guy like me being in my first year, it’s great to be on the road and hang out with the guys and get to know guys better. The better you know guys, the more comfortable you are on the ice, I think.”

Poolman said dressing for only 10 games with the Jets and Moose prior to Monday night is easier to handle considering he got used to a lighter game schedule while playing hockey at the University of North Dakota the past three seasons.

“I think that’s helped with these kinds of situations for me because you get four or five days off. It’s just mentally staying sharp and something about the college schedule you can work on,” he said. The reduced workload has also allowed him to ease back into action following off-season double shoulder surgery.

“I feel good and stuff, but having extra time for rehab and not have to push my body to a limit right away is always great when you’re coming off of two surgeries like that, for sure,” he said.

Winnipeg is expected to call up another defenceman from the Moose as insurance, given that they currently have no extras on their roster right now.

There was some good news on the injury front Monday, as goalie Steve Mason was activated off injured reserve.

He missed seven games with a concussion suffered after taking a puck to the mask. Eric Comrie, who played one game with the Jets this season, was returned to the Moose.

Mason backed up Connor Hellebuyck in Monday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. He could get a start in the near future, with the Jets set to play four games in six days starting Thursday, all within the Central Division.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg