With just over three weeks remaining in the regular season the Jets continue to deal with a laundry list of injured players up and down their roster. While some players appear close to turning the corner some may be on the shelf for a bit.
Note: I have updated this post to reflect the information provided by Jets coach Paul Maurice following the morning skate on the 15th specifically as it concerns Matt Hendricks and Michael Hutchinson. To see the latest click here.
Finally Healthy:
Shawn Matthias: The Jets veteran forward had missed 24 games with an upper-body injury before returning to action (somewhat unexpectedly) last night in Nashville.
Close:
Jacob Trouba: He was lost in a game against the Ducks back on January 25th which has cost him the past 20 games. On Monday following morning skate coach Maurice said this about the Jets top pairing defenceman: “if it’s not Chicago it would be the game after (Stars) possibly”.
Adam Lowry: Has missed 18 games since sustaining an upper-body injury back on February 1st in a contest against the Golden Knights. On Monday following morning skate coach Maurice said this about the Jets centre: is in a full contact sweater and “is not that far off”.
Mark Scheifele: After a hard collision with Jets captain Blake Wheeler in a game against the Rangers on March 6th the Jets top centre has been out of the lineup for four games with an upper-body injury. On Monday following morning skate coach Maurice said this about the Jets centre: is in a non-contact and back on the ice “feeling much better which is a real positive”.
Known timeline:
Steve Mason: After finally getting back into the lineup for the Jets against the Rangers on March 6th the Jets backup goalie wasn’t feeling right the next Jets skate and left early. The team recalled Michael Hutchinson from the Moose. Mason had a scope done on Monday on his knee which means he is out two to three weeks.
Matt Hendricks: The veteran centre got tangled up in a faceoff in the 3rd period of the game against the Capitals and it was evident he wasn’t feeling good as he made his way to the bench. He didn’t play in Nashville and there hasn’t been any word as to his status. Update: Out 6-8 weeks with a lower-body injury.
Unknown timeline:
Tobias Enstrom: He was an unexpected scratch aheadof the game on Saturday against the Flyers. Following the contest coach Maurice said “He’s been running the same thing for three months….There’s a point where I don’t want this thing keep grinding on him. We were off the ice with him yesterday. We were hoping that there would be a 24 hour improvement and there wasn’t. So he’s kind of status quo from the day before, so I held him out.”
Dimitry Kulikov: The veteran defenceman left the game against the Devils on March 8th with an upper-body injury which coach Maurice described as “cramping” following the game. On Monday he indicated that Kulikov would be further evaluated and he followed that up last night post-game with this “He’s going to be looked at by more than one person so we don’t have all the information yet.”.
Paul Stastny: The Jets new centre took warm up last night in Nashville but pulled himself from the game when something clearly wasn’t feeling 100%. With the Jets off today we won’t have an update until tomorrow when they skate at Bell MTS Place. Coach Maurice indicated “Went into the warm up, stiffened up and couldn’t go.” Added that “it was tight this morning, but thought he’d be able to go, didn’t loosen up over the course of the day and tightened up on him in the warm up.”.
Michael Hutchinson: The backup netminder left yesterday’s game after taking a bump in the 1st period of the game last night in Nashville. Following the game the Jets bench boss indicated “Michael did not receive a concussion diagnosis after the game. He’ll go back and get it evaluated”. While the timeline of the injury is unknown at this time the team has recalled Eric Comrie from the Moose. Update: Has a concussion.
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