Jacob Trouba officially diagnosed with a concussion

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This article was published 19/03/2018 (2223 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Defenceman Jacob Trouba’s trip to the specialist Tuesday had a predictable outcome.

“He was diagnosed with a concussion and so he’s in the protocol now,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice following Winnipeg’s pre-game skate Tuesday morning. “He looks good today so that’s a positive.”

Winnipeg (43-19-10, second in Central Division) hosts the Los Angeles Kings (40-27-6, third in Pacific) tonight.

Trouba had only recently returned to the Jets lineup, playing in Sunday’s 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars after missing 20 games with a sprained ankle. The 24-year-old was involved in a heavy collision with Stars’ captain Jamie Benn and had to be helped off the ice, not to return.

Trade deadline acquisition Joe Morrow is expected to slot in for Trouba while rookie defenceman Tucker Poolman will be a healthy scratch.

In another significant development, the Jets have tabbed AHL call-up Eric Comrie to start tonight against the Kings. Comrie lost a 6-4 decision to the Florida Panthers Dec. 7 in his only other start this season.

Comrie made one start for the Jets in 2016-17. He is 17-11-3 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose in 2017-18.

“Every time you come up, you get more comfortable, you get more used to to the guys, everything gets a little bit easier,” said Comrie. “I’m excited to be back up here. I’m a little bit more calm this time, a little bit more ready.”

The move is all about giving No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck additional rest with only 10 regular-season games left to play before the post-season. Hellebuyck has started six consecutive games and 18 of the last 20 games.

“He’s played, so he’s got some games in with the Moose and he hasn’t been sitting for a long period of time,” said Maurice of Comrie. “This works out to be a four-day block, if it works out. We can give Connor about a three-day… mental rest and get him back up to speed. He’s going to want to stay at a fairly good rhythm toward the end of the year. So we don’t want to be pulling him out of games right at the end.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14