Jones feeling better

Randy Jones will miss his seventh consecutive game tomorrow, but after a couple weeks in which Jones’ long-term status appeared to be in question, Jones now appears to be nearing a return. Jones participated in a full-team practice today, but Terry Murray said Jones isn’t quite ready to play. Jones has been suffering from headaches, dizziness and neck pain since a Dec. 16 collision with Edmonton’s Dustin Penner. Here’s what Jones and Murray said today about Jones’ status…

Question: How do you feel?

JONES: “I feel good. I feel a lot better. It’s good to be back and it’s great to be back on the ice again.”

Question: Was it scary for a while there, with the symptoms?

JONES: “I wouldn’t say scary, but it was just testing the patience a little bit, I guess. It was kind of frustrating, because just like everybody in this dressing room, I want to play. When injuries like this come along, it’s a little frustrating and you’ve got to have a little patience with it. But I’m feeling good now and I’m just happy to be back on the ice again with the guys.”

Question: Are all of the symptoms gone now? The headaches, the dizziness?

JONES: “Yeah. Everything that the trainers and doctors were concerned about have subsided. I’m skating and doing a lot of activities and I’m feeling good. It’s a good sign, and even in practices I’m feeling good, so it’s a step in the right direction.”

Question: When you got hurt, it seemed like you just ran into a brick wall there…

JONES: “Yeah, pretty much. I was looking one way and I had no idea that he was even there. I think you could easily say that it was like a brick wall there. I had no clue the guy was there. I was looking in the other direction, and next thing you know, it happened. But that’s hockey and I feel better now.”

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Question: What is Jones’ status?

MURRAY: “Getting better. Not ready for tomorrow, but getting better. He came through the practice, that I put him through yesterday with the skate, without any reprecussions of any issues, so it’s going in the right direction. We just have to make sure that he gets to a certain level of hard work in a practice. It’s hard today, with the game tomorrow, but he really needs to get pushed hard and be competing hard in some drills, so that he can get to more game-like scenarios, and then get a read on himself.”