The Winnipeg Jets are like fans of the sport as a whole: unsure of Patrik Laine’s status, but hoping for the best.
Head coach Paul Maurice said there was “no update” regarding Laine after the Jets’ 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Remarkably, as much as the hit hurts literally and figuratively, even the Jets seem OK with it. Maurice labels the Jake McCabe check as “clean” and even Jets Nation describes it as a “textbook” collision.
"No update"
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 7, 2017
Head Coach Paul Maurice on Laine, the 4-3 loss, and more. pic.twitter.com/BlGEqusyKQ
Another angle.. You don't have to like it, but that is a textbook clean hit. #NHLJets #Sabres pic.twitter.com/RipYc5JFZ0
— JetsNation (@NHLJetsNation) January 7, 2017
Often you see some disagreements with big hits that result in injuries, but in this case, it really just seems like an unfortunate result.
Also interesting: Blake Wheeler looks at it as a turning point in the game, as the Jets’ website reports.
“Don’t know anything about it yet, so I’m hoping for the best,” Wheeler said. “The momentum was shifting at that point, so that probably bumped it in their direction even more. We’re down a goal and he can provide instant offence and not having him on your bench definitely hurt.”
PHT will keep an eye out for more substantial updates on the sniping rookie.