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The Winnipeg Jets are firmly ensconced in second place in the Central Division with 98 points.
That's when coach Paul Maurice's gave the highly anticipated injury update on sniper Patrik Laine and had nothing but good news. The 19-year-old has a bruise on his left foot -- nothing is broken -- after blocking a slap shot from Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez in the second period of the Jets' 2-1 overtime victory over the Kings on Tuesday.
"When he gets his foot in the (skate) boot and feels comfortable, he'll be back playing," Maurice told his media conference after practice Thursday.
Laine, second in league goal scoring with 43 goals, is expected to miss Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks and Sunday's contest against the Nashville Predators and possibly more. The window for his return has been estimated at 4-to-14 days.
The Ducks come to town riding a four-game winning streak, including a 4-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, highlighted by goalie John Gibson's fourth shutout of the season and 16th of his career. The win improves his record to 12-3-1 in his last 16 starts.
"Your goalie is paid to stop the puck. He shouldn't let any in," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said in his post-game press conference. "That's the theory coaches always go to, but it's unrealistic to look at it that way. We know how strong Gibson's been."
The Ducks are in a dogfight for the third playoff spot in the Pacific Division or a wild-card spot and will be without the services of defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who has undergone surgery to remove scar tissue from one of his hands and will be out 2-to-5 weeks.
