No one really knows how their body is going to react after testing positive for COVID-19.

Tucker Poolman is no different.

A day after logging 18:53 in the Jets season opening contest back on Jan. 14, the 27-year-old Poolman tested positive for COVID-19. He was added to the NHL’s COVID Protocol Related Absence List the following day.

"I was sitting on the couch at home and got a call that I tested positive. I was surprised," said Poolman. "I was talking, and the eyes got kind of wide, like 'how did that happen?'

The Jets canceled their ensuing practice out of an abundance of caution. Thankfully an outbreak inside the Jets locker room was prevented.

"I'm glad nobody else got it. That was a big plus for me," Poolman said. "I was waiting around for a week kind of nervous at home."

Poolman returned to practice this past Sunday, hitting the ice with his teammates for the first time since the Jets opening night victory.

With his return, the Jets want to take things easy with the defenseman, not asking him to do too much this early into his return.

"I came back and it feels like another training camp almost," said Poolman. "Every day feels better on the ice cardio wise, and the hands, it's just a process when you sit out that long."

An emotional few weeks for Poolman begin with his positive COVID-19 test, ran through the passing of the virus to his fiancé, Jess and concluded Thursday with his return to action.

“I’ve gone through a lot of emotions over the last few weeks between myself getting it and then Jess getting it at home,” Poolman said. “Like everyone, this whole year, a lot of curveballs have been thrown at you. You know, it is what it is.”

After putting a few practices behind him, Poolman returned to the Jets lineup Thursday night in the team’s 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, logging exactly 15 minutes of ice time

“He was good,” head coach Paul Maurice said Thursday. “For the block of time that he would have taken off, to come into a really fast, high-event quick game, I was real happy with the way he jumped in.”

To ensure Poolman wouldn’t be tasked with too much in his return, Maurice ran with 11 defensemen for the first time this season. By running with seven defensemen, Maurice could monitor Poolman’s ice time while not overextending the rest of his d-core.

The Jets got off to a rocky start in the game’s opening period as the Senators dominated play, outshooting the Jets 18-6 in the frame. The Senators also held the edge in shot attempts 30-9, scoring chances 20-4 and high-danger scoring chances for 9-0. Ottawa carried an expected goals for total of 1.98 in the frame.

Maurice wouldn’t put the blame on his juggled lineup being responsible for their slow start.

"I think it had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact it might have been the saving grace for the game. From a forward perspective," said Maurice. "Our [defence] had a tough time. [The Senators] put an awful lot of pressure on those guys. We were sluggish, clearly, at the start of this game, and then got markedly stronger as the game went on.

A three-goal second period was all the Jets would need en route to a 5-1 victory, an outcome that may not have been the case had Connor Hellebuyck not had the first period performance he did.

“I got into a rhythm. I got into it early. The guys were keeping them to the outside, allowing me to see a lot of the shots which is great for my position,” said Hellebuyck. “They got a lot of shots, but I thought we controlled where they were coming from.”

Consistently rolling with 11 forwards and seven defensemen is not the extended plan as Poolman's minutes will continue to inch closer to where Maurice wants them to be. While Thursday's contest wasn't the best of starts for the unique lineup, Hellebuyck didn't think it was an issue.

"You’d have to ask them (the defensemen) because I thought they were great in front of me all night," he said.

"I know seven guys, it’s probably tough on them just rhythm-wise."

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