Dmitry Kulikov nearing return

Veteran defenceman Dmitry Kulikov has been out of the Jets lineup since the first period of a game against the Ducks in Anaheim back on November 29th. A few days after the injury occurred Jets bench boss Paul Maurice indicated that Kulikov was expected to be out with an upper-body injury until the All-Star Break (January 26th). With Kulikov ditching his non-contact jersey for a normal one today at practice in Toronto his coach was asked if he could be ready for a return tomorrow night against the Leafs. "Possibly an option tomorrow. We'll get him through his day here today. See where he's at. I'm not sure I'm putting him into a back-to-back off that injury. But he may be a player for us in one of the next two." His return would be roughly two weeks ahead of schedule and would help solidify the Jets backend during a critical stretch.

Winnipeg Jets Health Update: Dmitry Kulikov closing in on return