Tanev set to return as Jets return to practice after bye week

WINNIPEG - The bye week is over, and the Winnipeg Jets didn't waste any time getting back to work.
"You saw everyone was on the ice 20-25 minutes before practice today just trying to touch the puck as much as they can and try to get the hands back," said Bryan Little. "I don't think anyone took five days off. I think guys were working out and in the gym still. It didn't feel too bad. The passes were a bit off and the lungs were burning a bit."

However, the news wasn't as good for others. Steve Mason sustained a concussion during a morning skate prior to the bye week, and there is no timetable for his return.
"It's been a real challenge with his injuries, and then the amount of time he's been out. It's been a challenge for him," said Maurice. "We can rely on the fact that going into it he has some experience with it - if there's a positive in that. So he knows how this works. He knows what to look for, what to take care of.
"For a veteran goalie it's one game. You get in one game, you feel good, then you're right back to where you were. But it's a challenge for him for sure."
Shawn Matthias (who didn't participate in today's practice) remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Adam Lowry wore a non-contact jersey in today's skate, and Maurice says the team is hopeful the centre can return on the two-game road trip in California next week.
"I took warm up against San Jose and was hoping I'd be able to play that game and not miss any time. When you look at it like that, I'm a little surprised," said Lowry. "It was one of those things I was hoping that after a couple days in Buffalo I was going to be able to play on that road trip. Then over the bye week I was able to skate and do some things, and I was hoping I'd be ready for this weekend. That's not the case.
"Sometimes you have to wait, and your body will do what it does. Hopefully it won't be too much longer and it's not going to be an issue moving forward."

With Tanev back in the fold, and Jack Roslovic and Michael Hutchinson recalled from the Manitoba Moose this morning, the lines looked like this in practice:
Connor-Wheeler-Laine
Perreault-Little-Ehlers
Tanev-Copp-Armia
Dano-Hendricks-Roslovic
Morrissey-Trouba
Kulikov-Myers
Enstrom-Byfuglien
The Flames will also be coming off their five-day break when the puck drops at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary went into the bye week on a seven-game win streak, powered by the line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Micheal Ferland, who have combined for 32 points in those seven games.
The surge has put the Flames into third spot in the Pacific Division at 25-16-4.

With both teams coming off an extended break, captain Blake Wheeler said the Jets need to focus on keeping their game simple, especially in the opening minutes against Calgary, as the Jets look to get back in the win column after going into the break with losses in Chicago and Minnesota.
"Just try to get moving, try to play as fast as we can. That's the key," said Wheeler. "Any time you have a break, your mind doesn't want to go as fast as it needs to. Just have to get your legs underneath you, try to move the puck as fast as you can, try not to do too much, and hopefully you start feeling like yourself sooner than later."