Winnipeg Jets HC Scott Arniel provided health updates on Gabriel Vilardi, Neal Pionk and Rasmus Kupari following this morning's skate.
The Jets will host the St. Louis Blues tonight, returning from a three-game road trip and will be without Vilardi, Pionk and Kupari once again, but the status updates were shared with a bit of a positive light.
Vilardi was given a week-to-week timetable on Mar. 24 and the news that's followed him hasn't been great. Arniel's comments after practice mentioned that he is “up and around here” and that they'll be looking at getting him back on the ice soon.
The Jets power play has been struggling for quite some time and during his absence, it's faltered further. Vilardi's presence in front of the net is rivalled by few players in the NHL and they'll need it come playoff time.
Pionk looks to be the closest to returning. He's skated with the Jets on numerous occasions despite not participating in line rushes. Arniel said the 29-year-old is "really close" and they are working on getting his conditioning to where it needs to be.
The final injured Jets player is 25-year-old speedster Kupari. He's been dealing with a concussion and had returned from it for one game before suffering what was called a "setback." He skated this morning and will be working his way back to full health.
The Central Division lead is separated by three points with just five games remaining and adding any or all of these players back into the lineup can help them secure their desired spot in the standings.
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