The Winnipeg Jets returned to the ice yesterday evening for the first time since the NHL’s holiday break began.
It was a crazy day around the league as the NHL announced changes to the CBA and more postponed games, while some teams announced the additions of several players and/or staff members to the COVID-protocol.
On December 23, the Jets announced that Andrew Copp and Kristian Vesalainen were added to the COVID-protocol, but fortunately yesterday, the Jets did not announce any new additions to the protocol.
Besides Blake Wheeler who is out injured and on the long-term injured reserve, the only other notable omissions to the Jets’ first skate back were Neal Pionk and Evgeny Svechnikov
Neal Pionk and Evgeny Svechnikov missed Winnipeg Jets practice, but their absences were not related to COVID-19
Dave Lowry clarified that the reason Pionk missed the practice was due to travel-related issues and he is expected to be back on the ice today.
Svechnikov got hurt during the Jets’ 5-2 loss to the Capitals and was listed as day-to-day after the injury. Lowry provided a great update regarding Svechnikov and stated that he’ll be back shortly.
C.J. Suess and Kristian Reichel did participate in practice after being recalled on an emergency basis from the Manitoba Moose yesterday morning.
The Jets are scheduled to play in their first game since the break on Wednesday night as they will match up against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Canada Life Centre. This was supposed to be the second game on back-to-back nights for Chicago, but their game scheduled for tomorrow at the United Center against the Columbus Blue Jackets was postponed for COVID-related reasons.
Although the Jets will not be playing tonight, two of their prospects will be playing today at the 2022 World Junior Championship in Alberta. The Jets have four former draft picks playing at this tournament and three of them registered a point in yesterday’s opening day games. You can read our site’s recap of all that happened at the first day of the WJC and a preview of today’s games by clicking the link here or the “NEXT” link below.