Head coach Scott Arniel provided both some good and bad news on a pair of injured Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Arniel said that Neal Pionk has begun to do more off-ice and weight room activities as he works back from a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the last seven games.
Pionk has 37 points (nine goals and 28 assists) in 66 games this season and was initially ruled week-to-week.
The 29-year-old ranks third on the team with a plus-21 and is second in average ice time, with 22:09 minutes per game.
“It’s not one of those ones where it’s an automatic four-to-six. He’s a ways away,” Arniel said. “He’s a way from even trying to get into the weight room right now. He’s more on just getting better.”
Vilardi is dealing with an upper-body injury and is considered week-to-week.
The 25-year-old has emerged as a key contributor for the Central-leading Jets, tallying 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games while playing on the top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele.
Winnipeg is gearing up for Sunday’s contest against the Vancouver Canucks. It entered Saturday with an NHL-best 104 points and is trying to keep its Central Division lead over the Dallas Stars.
