Jubilation on Myers’ return to practice

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/01/2017 (3171 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA BAY — The Winnipeg Jets have had little to cheer about these days. After a streak in mid-December where the Jets put together a strong run, winning four of five games, they dropped their next two at home to fall two games below .500 and three points out of a playoff spot.

So when they were dealt a ray of sunshine prior to Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the return of Tyler Myers, they erupted into celebration, slapping their sticks and raising their voices as the Jets defenceman skated onto the Amalie Arena ice near the end of the Jets’ morning skate wearing an orange, non-contact jersey.

“I didn’t know if the Jumbotron was on, or what was going on, but that was a pretty good cheer to have him out there,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “He’s not that hard to find at that size 6-8, 229 pounds), wearing orange. It’s been a long time for him more than anybody else, so it’s good that he gets on the ice.”

Tuesday marked the first appearance from Myers in almost two months. Myers has been out with an undisclosed lower-body injury since Nov. 11 and has missed the last 24 games, including a 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning later that night.

The fact Myers is skating is a good sign for the Jets, who have struggled without him, posting a 10-12-1 record since his absence, but his return to the lineup is still some time away, Maurice said. It will likely be at least a week, more likely two or more, before he returns.

“He’s been off the ice for so very long,” the Jets coach said. “(The medical staff) do their best to keep a guy right, but he’s going to have to get pushed really hard on the ice for a little bit before he gets back in the lineup.”

The Jets have needed more scoring from their defence this year, which makes Myers’ absence even harder to swallow. Myers had three points in seven periods before his injury.

“The thing that we’ve missed the most was he was really, really playing well prior to his injury,” Maurice added. “Before he went down he was scoring, he was a plus player for us, he’s a big-minute guy.”

Additionally, with Myers out of the lineup the Jets lack an offensive, puck-moving defenceman on their third pairing, which currently consists of Ben Chiarot and Paul Postma.

“Having a defenceman in each pairing that can bring the puck up the ice makes a big, big difference,” Maurice said. “And Paul and Benny have done a really good job with that, they’re just not that same kind of offensive player that Tyler is. You can’t deliver it the same way.”

The other question surrounding Myers’ return is where exactly he’ll fit in when he does finally make it back. He had been playing alongside Toby Enstrom on the Jets’ second pairing, a spot that now seems secured by his replacement, Jacob Trouba, who continues to improve with more minutes and responsibility. He scored his second goal of the season and added an assist against the Lightning, giving him six points in his last four games.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton