Patrik Laine is back before missing a single Jets game.
Three days after Laine sustained an ankle injury when he was hit by a shot during the Jets victory against the Los Angeles Kings, and a day after head coach Paul Maurice said, "Really, we don't know," with regards to when to expect Laine back on the ice, his return came Friday during morning skate ahead of Winnipeg's game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Less than an hour before puck drop, it was confirmed that Laine will rejoin the Jets lineup, having missed a period plus of hockey on Tuesday.
"He wants to play. We'll give him the afternoon to make sure it continues to go in the direction it's going," said head coach Paul Maurice. "He was pretty direct with me about his ability to play [Friday.]"
Laine’s sequence of events this morning according to Maurice:
— Sean Reynolds (@snseanreynolds) March 23, 2018
1. Felt good so took the morning skate with the team rather than with injured players
2. Skated harder than he’s ever skated in a warm up to prove he was ok
3. Left ice, walked into coach’s office & said, “I can play”
On Thursday, Maurice said the injury Laine sustained can typically take 4-14 days to heal, though that didn't mean Laine would miss that amount of time. It was assumed though he would miss the Jets game on Friday against the Ducks and on Sunday against the Nashville Predators.
"It feels better than it was a couple of days ago," Laine said after morning skate.
Laine enters play Friday trailing Alex Ovechkin by a goal in the Richard race. The sophomore forward said a return to the ice has nothing to do with his pursuit of that trophy.
"If I'm playing that's not the reason why I'm playing," Laine said, who bluntly replied 'none' when asked the impact of the scoring race on his decision. "I'm going to play if I can, but that has nothing to do with my decision.
"I don't want to just go out there to play if I'm not 100 percent and then get hurt again."
MORE: Shot at Rocket Richard Trophy wanes as Laine takes shot off ankle
The Jets meanwhile seem virtually locked into their playoff position with nine games remaining in the regular season. Winnipeg trails the Predators by eight points for first in the division, but also leads third-place Minnesota by eight points.
"There's still a lot of time before playoffs so I don't want to risk anything now," Laine said.
🎥 Patrik Laine speaks on returning to the ice for Morning Skate this morning. #ANAvsWPG pic.twitter.com/x1rApGFaXq
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 23, 2018
Saturday could perhaps represent Winnipeg's last chance to challenge Nashville for the top spot in the Central and Western Conference. If Nashville was to lose against Minnesota on Saturday and Winnipeg on Sunday in regulation, and the Jets were to win each of their next two games, they would draw to within four points of the Predators and home-ice advantage throughout the postseason.
"That was [Laine's] best morning skate of the year; I can guarantee you that," Maurice said. "There are three boxes that have to get checked. ... The big one is the player confidence, and he has lots of confidence that he's a player tonight."
The game on Friday will have major playoff implications for Anaheim, though. The Ducks enter play Friday in eighth place in the Western Conference, in possession in the second wild card spot. A victory in any fashion would see them jump into third in the Pacific Division.
Winnipeg and Anaheim face off at 8 PM EST Friday.