After #NHLJets HC Paul Maurice on D Tyler Myers being sent back to Winnipeg on Monday for further testing: pic.twitter.com/qukGrXNjFS
Myers took part in the morning skate, and afterwards told reporters, "I expect to be back to normal tonight."
Tyler Myers on his status: “Feel pretty good. Stepped out there this morning and all things were going pretty well, so I’ll be out there tonight.” #NHLJets
— Scott Billeck (@ScottBilleck) April 20, 2018
That is great news for the Jets, who will still be minus three regular defensemen when they look to eliminate the Wild Friday night. Neither Toby Enstrom nor Dmitry Kulikov has played in this series yet due to injury, and Josh Morrissey serves a one-game suspension for his cross-check on Wild center Eric Staal in Winnipeg's 2-0 road win in Game 4.
"We have a tremendous amount of depth, eight defensemen deep, and that gives is a little bit of luxury back there," explained Jets captain Blake Wheeler.
Myers, who scored one goal in each of the first and third games of this series, was injured in a Game 3 collision with Wild forward Marcus Foligno, with some speculating that a Foligno punch to the back of the knee caused Myers injury. However, Myers refuted that Friday morning. Neither Myers nor the Jets confirmed a knee injury, terming it a lower-body injury instead.
Tyler Myers says Marcus Foligno reached out. Old pals from their Buffalo days. "It's all good," Myers said.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 20, 2018
Jets' Backup Mason Hurt at Morning Skate
Not all the injury news was good for the Jets at Friday's morning skate.
Backup goaltender Steve Mason appeared to his injure his knee while stopping a shot. He fell flat on the ice in pain before heading to the dressing room.
#NHLJets G Steve Mason is down on the ice getting some medical attention. He was on the ice for early work before the morning skate pic.twitter.com/pTF6Q2L6Yt
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) April 20, 2018
After the skate, Jets coach Paul Maurice shed little light on Mason's condition.
"He has to be looked at," Maurice told reporters. "If he's good and right to back up, then he'll be there; and if not, we'll have to bring somebdy in."