"They do not have an abundance of what he brings -- the combination of size, reach and skill -- so the Winnipeg Jets will be keeping their fingers crossed that centre Nik Antropov is ready to return to the lineup tonight.

The Jets, who have won three straight home games without Antropov, meet the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the MTS Centre (7:30 p.m., TSN Jets, TSN 1290).

Antropov, the team's highest-paid forward this season at $4.25 million, aggravated a recurring undisclosed injury Nov. 29 against Ottawa.

But the 31-year-old former first-round draft pick (1998) of the Toronto Maple Leafs has practised twice with his teammates this week and might be ready tonight.

"I just skated two times to see how it would react," Antropov said after Thursday's workout at the MTS IcePlex. "Tomorrow, after the morning skate, we'll make a decision.

"Yesterday (Wednesday), it reacted really good so we'll see how it is.""