Injured Jets not quite at full speed

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This article was published 14/12/2016 (3199 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets are on the mend, but they’re not exactly out of the woods when it comes to adding depth to the roster.

Forwards Shawn Matthias (lower body) and Joel Armia (knee) returned to practice for the first time Wednesday since suffering injuries that have kept them out of the lineup since early November. Each wore a yellow non-contact jersey, which is a good sign for improved health, but one that rarely means an imminent return to game action.

Head coach Paul Maurice confirmed as much after practice, saying there were still a number of steps to be taken before either Matthias or Armia could play again.

“So then it goes into controlled contact — probably away from practice time — and then full contact and once they hit that it’s kind of how they feel the next day,” Maurice said. “Once they feel good they’ll be back in the lineup.”

Maurice wouldn’t give a definitive timeline for a possible return for Matthias and Armia, but said if it were to happen before the Christmas break, it would likely fall on one of two consecutive road games in Vancouver on Dec. 20 and 22.

“My goal was to be back before they originally thought and I’ve made big strides, I’ve pushed myself hard, I’m in great shape right now,” said Matthias, who added his return will fall on a decision by Maurice and the Jets’ training staff. “I feel good, but the decision will come down to how they feel about it.”

The Jets coach also provided an update on defenceman Tyler Myers, who has missed the last 15 games with a lower-body injury.

“He’s plateaued in his recovery and we’re not seeing enough progress to put him on the ice and it will stay there until he gets out of the cycle that he’s in and he feels good,” Maurice said. “He’s not ready to skate yet.”

Wheeler unsure about Olympics

The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and whether the NHL should be part of it has been a hot topic in recent weeks.

Reports have surfaced that a majority of NHL owners prefer not to have their players play in the tournament for fear of potential injury. Players, on the other hand, have shown a keen interest in continuing to compete, including Washington Capitals forward, Alexander Ovechkin, who said he plans on representing his homeland Russia regardless of the decision made by the NHL.

Jets captain Blake Wheeler, who was part of Team USA at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, wasn’t as committal. His mood was also based on the fact the Jets began their season playing 32 games in 60 days — the most in that span of any team in NHL history.

“It’s always great to see the best players competing at the highest level, but, you know, that’s a couple of years away,” Wheeler said. “I guess I’m not in the same boat as Ovechkin… I don’t remember (the schedule) being quite like this in the Olympic year. I guess if they said this is what it was going to look like in the Olympic year it would give you some pause.”

Maurice was similar in his assessment, though he feels the decision should take another voice — the fans — into consideration when making a final decision.

“This isn’t about me, it’s about fans of hockey at the end of the day and the first priority has to be NHL fans for us,” he said. “So it’s got to work for NHL fans and then fans of hockey probably second.”

Cool your Jets

Speaking of the hectic schedule for the Jets, or more specifically now that it’s behind them, a number of players believe the time is now for a turnaround the season.

After back-to-back wins over two heavy hitters in the Central Division in the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, the Jets have dropped their last four games.

“You look at the way we performed, we can’t say we’re happy with the results,” forward Adam Lowry said. “With that being said, we know if we put together a streak we’re right in the thick of things.”

With the competition seemingly only getting easier before Christmas, with games at home against Florida (13-13-4) Thursday and Colorado (11-15-1) Sunday, followed by the pair of road games against the Canucks (12-16-2), the chance to find that good feeling again in the room is no better than the present.

The Jets are also perhaps the most fresh they’ve been all season, having three days off before their next game for the first time since October.

“I feel like when we were looking good, playing the way we wanted to, we’re a real tough team to play against. Sometimes the way we need to play to be successful was really difficult for us to do just because of the amount of action we’ve had,” Wheeler said. “We’re really hoping that these couple days off, and these next four games, we can get back on track and get a good feeling going before the Christmas break.”

Ehlers happy with play

Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers snapped a 15-game goalless drought with his fifth of the season in a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames Saturday.

Ehlers, who also has 19 assists to give him 24 points — good enough for 28th in league scoring heading into Wednesday’s games — in 32 games, had shown frustration during his drought. But only because he had been unable to convert on some quality chances, including a few breakaways in key times during games, and not because of his play.

If anything, he’s been happy with his play this season and has embraced his role as a playmaker ahead of a scorer so far this season.

“I’m playing in the best league in the world against the best players in the world. It’s hard scoring goals. These goaltenders are unbelievable,” Ehlers said. “When I go out there, of course I try to score, but I probably see myself more as a passer right now than a shooter and I feel OK with that. But scoring a goal once in a while is not bad either.”

But, as is often the case with goal scorers, sometimes getting that one to break a streak can lead to a stretch of good fortune. Ehlers should have plenty of opportunity to do so as he’s currently on the Jets’ top line alongside Mark Scheifele and Wheeler.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton