Center Mark Scheifele will miss Game 7 of the Winnipeg Jets’ first-round playoff series on Sunday night against the St. Louis Blues, Jets coach Scott Arniel confirmed.
Scheifele was listed Saturday as a game-time decision. He sustained an undisclosed injury in Game 5 on Wednesday and missed Game 6 on Friday in St. Louis when the Blues evened the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
“That’s just the challenge that we’ve run into all year long,” Arniel said after the morning skate Sunday, per NHL.com. “We’ve run into it all this series without Gabe (Gabriel Vilardi, who came back in Game 5) and Nik (Nikolaj Ehlers, who returned for Game 6). We’ve done it all year long and that’s just part of our group that knows that they have to step up, next guy has to step up. Whether that’s more opportunity, more ice time, take advantage of it. Do what you can.”
Scheifele took a hit from Blues captain Brayden Schenn at the 6:12 mark of the first period and another about 10 minutes later from St. Louis forward Radek Faksa. He played the rest of that period, but didn’t return to the game after intermission.
Scheifele registered 87 points (39 goals, 48 assists) playing in all 82 regular-season games this season for the Jets, who had the best record in the NHL (56-22-4). Only Kyle Connor (41 goals, 56 assists) produced more goals and assists for the Jets during the regular season. Scheifele added two goals and four assists in his five postseason appearances. Only Connor (four goals, five assists) owns more postseason points.
The home team has won each game in the series. The Jets hope home ice will give them the edge in this one.
“I just feel we’ve been really solid all year at home,” said Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg. “We know that and we’re comfortable playing here and the crowd really helps as well. … It all comes down to one game, so just making sure we put our best foot forward and leaving it all out there on the ice. There’s going to be a lot of energy out there and it’s going to be exciting.”
–Field Level Media
