Exactly three weeks ago we learned that Neal Pionk, Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury would be out week-to-week with a variety of injuries that were expected to keep them out of the Jets lineup until the conclusion of the Olympic break.
Fast forward to today and the trio all remain out of the lineup although while the team were on their four-game road trip the social media folks were tweeting photos/videos of Neal Pionk hitting the ice with his teammates.
Following morning skate head coach Scott Arniel was asked for progress report on the trio:
“Everything’s going to the Olympic break, coming back. We’ll see when we get back. I’m hoping that Miller and Pionk will be back skating. Fleury’s got a checkup today to see if he’s able to get going on the ice. Obviously he’s going to have a little bit more work ahead of him. We get back from the break, we’re hoping two of them are ready to go. And three would be great. But as of right now that’s just the plan. I don’t know where it’ll be 100 percent, if they’ll all be ready to go. They’ll have to get some treatment while we’re away and before the 17th.”
Which could mean some more NHL time for prospect Elias Salomonsson and Isaak Phillips if the trio are not ready by the time Winnipeg heads to Vancouver for the first game after the break on the 25th. These two are expected to keep playing hockey as they are likely to head back to the Moose during the break as Manitoba plays six games during this time.
Arniel’s specific response left it open but it’s clear which way he’s leaning:
“We’ll talk about it after. Obviously we don’t want those two kids sitting. That’s probably what we’re going to do. There’s no need for those two to sit for three weeks.”
Moose are in Texas this weekend where they play Friday and Saturday. Then they have the AHL All-Star break but that’s during the week so it doesn’t really impact game play. They are thereafter home to Calgary (14th & 16th) and Iowa (21st & 22nd).
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