Apr 21, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN;Winnipeg Jets heart Mark Scheifele (55) will get set to dam shot by St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (6) within the second interval in sport two of the primary spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre. Obligatory Credit score: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Photos
The visiting Winnipeg Jets will take the ice with out considered one of their greatest gamers once they attempt to shut out their Western Convention first-round collection in opposition to the St. Louis Blues with a victory in Recreation 6 on Friday evening.
Mark Scheifele was injured within the first interval of a 5-3 win by Winnipeg in Recreation 5 on Wednesday. He took a thunderous hit from Blues heart Brayden Schenn about six minutes into the sport, leading to an interference penalty on Schenn, adopted by matching roughing penalties on Schenn and Brandon Tanev of the Jets.
Scheifele completed out the primary interval however didn’t return for the second. He’s thought of day-to-day.
The highest-line heart was second on the Jets in targets (39) and factors (87) throughout the common season and has six factors (two targets, 4 assists) in 5 playoff video games.
Groups are particularly guarded with their harm data throughout the postseason, and Jets coach Scott Arniel was no exception. When requested Thursday if Scheifele was in concussion protocol, Arniel mentioned, “I am not taking place that street.”
Vladislav Namestnikov took Scheifele’s place on the highest line in Recreation 5 and produced a purpose and an help within the second interval.
“It is not one man that should fill the footwear of Mark. It must be everyone,” Jets ahead Kyle Connor mentioned. “Vladdy, he is been nice for the entire collection, and a pair probabilities right here or there and he might have some higher outcomes. You see it (in Recreation 5). He drives exhausting to the web, performs all exhausting areas very effectively, defends effectively and, clearly, is a key contributor on two of these targets.”
The Blues are hoping a return to St. Louis will present the identical enhance it did for Video games 3 and 4.
St. Louis dropped two shut video games in Winnipeg to start out the collection, then erupted for 7-2 and 5-1 wins again residence.
“They received the higher of us (in Recreation 5), however we have got Recreation 6 at residence and a job to do,” St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk mentioned.
The Blues will undoubtedly try and put extra pucks on web. They’d simply 9 photographs on purpose by means of the primary two intervals of Recreation 5, hurting their odds of getting one previous Connor Hellebuyck, the probably Vezina Trophy winner this season.
St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery mentioned the staff additionally must play extra linked, help the puck higher, get again on protection faster and forecheck more durable.
“It is each aspect, however you understand what, it is a collection. It will occur,” Montgomery mentioned. “Sadly, we’re not blissful about it, however we’re onto the subsequent one. It is so simple as that. We have got to neglect about it. We’re in a collection.”
The Jets hope to proceed defending effectively, forechecking with intent and getting within the eye line of St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington.
“Clearly, now we put ourselves within the driver’s seat to go to St. Louis,” Jets ahead Mason Appleton mentioned. “Hopefully, we shut this collection out, however we all know how good they’re at residence and what we have now to do. That was our greatest sport of the collection (in Recreation 5), and we have got to duplicate that.”
–Area Stage Media