Matthias, Armia close to returning from injury

WINNIPEG - Shawn Matthias and Joel Armia returned to practice Wednesday in yellow non-contact sweaters and could be back in the Winnipeg Jets' lineup in about a week's time.
Both forwards have been out since the first week of November with lower-body injuries, but are close to full health after weeks of recovery and solo training sessions.
Neither is likely to return on this quick, two-game home stand, but are possibilities when the Jets travel to Vancouver for a pair of games next week prior to the Christmas break.

"Even then, I'm not sure," cautioned Head Coach Paul Maurice, who, after a swath of injuries in the first third of the campaign, will not rush them back.
The players are understandably impatient after a long layoff, and are eager to play, right away.

"It's been a long process, but it helped having Joel there to push me and work hard with me," Matthias said. "We're striving to get back and hopefully we can before the Christmas break. I've put myself in a position where I think I can get back in sooner than they originally anticipated, but I'm not sure, I'll have to speak with [the coaches and training staff] in more volume about how I feel. … I've made great strides, I've pushed myself hard, I'm in great shape right now and I feel good.
"When the guys are on the road and you're alone with your thoughts for a few days - especially when there was that snow storm - you can go a little nuts."
Tyler Myers, meanwhile, is still a ways off.
Myers was back on the ice with his injured teammates last week, but has "plateaued" in his recovery and will not return to the sheet until there is definite progress.

Myers will miss his 17th straight game Thursday when the Jets host Jaromir Jagr and the Florida Panthers.
Nic Petan remains out with a lower-body injury, and while he has made progress after the initial seven-to-ten-day diagnosis, there is currently no timetable for his return.
- Ryan Dittrick, WinnipegJets.com