The Winnipeg Jets returned from their Christmas break Saturday morning ready and raring to get back on track.

Then one of their top players got hurt in practice, and his status for Sunday night's home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins is up in the air.

It looks like it's turning into another one of those years for the Jets.

Mark Scheifele's head accidentally collided with teammate Andrew Ladd during a drill at MTS Centre. Scheifele was bleeding and looked woozy as a couple of teammates eventually escorted him off the ice.

“Looks like a couple stitches right now,” head coach Paul Maurice said after the practice. “We'll give it some time and see how he's feeling (Sunday).”

Scheifele has been one of the hottest Jets in December, notching four goals and five assists in his last nine games. The Jets have lost two in a row and can ill afford to lose someone of Scheifele's stature given their thin depth.

Anthony Peluso is the only extra forward the Jets had at Saturday's workout.

GROUND TO MAKE UP

The Jets enter the post-Christmas break eight points out of a playoff spot, which is a far cry from where they were coming out of last year's brief winter holiday. Winnipeg was four points above the playoff line and had the Western Conference's sixth best record last year at this time.

Even though they had three days away from the rink, it's unlikely the Jets were able to forget their ugly, back-to-back losses in Alberta on Monday and Tuesday.

After Tuesday's setback, a 4-1 loss to Calgary, head coach Paul Maurice said everyone could use some time apart. Maurice said Saturday that didn't mean it's been all doom and gloom in the Jets dressing room lately.

“I'm not sure that we've ever had a Christmas where the guys didn't want a little separation from the coach, right?” Maurice said. “I think we've been appropriately moody. It hasn't been like you're driving them every day without being positive. We've been positive when we should be, and we've gone hard after the things that made us grumpy. There's been a good balance there.”

PENS MIGHTIER?

The Penguins snapped a five-game winless skid with a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night, and they played in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild.

Despite firing head coach Mike Johnston earlier this month and replacing him with Mike Sullivan, the Penguins are still a dangerous opponent, according to Maurice.

“Sometimes maybe just a little bit like their playoffs, they kinda leave every game thinking they've probably had enough chances to score,” Maurice said. “The puck's not going in the net for them. They've had some important injuries to their team, their goaltender (Marc-Andre Fleury) a big piece to that and (Kris) Letang, a real important defenceman for them.

“You watch them, and they still get plenty to win enough hockey games. Our challenge is going to be to keep them on the outside. They still do some things in games that are impressive.”

Letang returned to the lineup on Saturday night after missing six games due to injury, but Fleury remains out.

AMERICANS RULE

The U.S. win over Canada on Saturday at the world junior men's hockey championship in Finland might cause a little friction in the Jets dressing room.

There are almost as many Americans (seven) as Canadians (nine) on Winnipeg's playing roster these days, including two who guided the U.S. to its first world junior gold medal at the 2004 tournament, which was also held in Helsinki.

Jets defenceman Mark Stuart was the captain of that U.S. team, while winger Drew Stafford was one of its forwards. The Americans roared back from a 3-1 deficit through two periods to beat the Canadians 4-3 in the gold medal match on Jan. 5, 2004.

“It was huge,” Stuart said. “At the time I didn't really realize how big it was, but now looking back it was fun to be a part of it.”

Stafford, who had an assist during the third period comeback, said there will be plenty of banter and some wagering in the Jets dressing room while the world junior is taking place.

“Those are some great memories, especially with 2004,” Stafford said. “We had a great group of guys, and it's one of my favourite hockey memories.”

BLUNT ASSESSMENT

Stafford went home to Minnesota for the Christmas break, narrowly avoiding the protests that disrupted the Minneapolis airport during the week.

Like his coach, Stafford isn't happy with the way things are going with the Jets, but the hope is the three days away will spark a rebirth.

“Losing isn't fun for anybody. We're all in a bad mood,” Stafford said. “When you string a few losses together it's hard to find the energy. Trying to find the enthusiasm, it takes a toll on you. For us to try and come together, it's a good time for us to maybe recharge the batteries and refocus a little bit and hit the ground running here coming back.

“Guys are excited and anxious to get back in it and hopefully turn this around. It's been kind of tough going for us the last little while.”

kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca

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