Forward Mark Scheifele will be absent for the sixth encounter with St. Louis Blues.
Winnipeg Jets without Mark Scheifele for Game 6 against St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele won't be suiting up for Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues due to an upper-body injury sustained in Game 5. The first-line center exited the match following two heavy first-period hits, one from Blues captain Brayden Schenn and the other from Radek Faksa.
Scheifele’s injury happened during the Jets' 5-3 victory over the Blues in the fifth game on Wednesday night. He didn't play after the first intermission, and Jets head coach Scott Arniel confirmed he'd be missing for the upcoming game. The team medical staff is evaluating Scheifele day-by-day.
With Scheifele out of the lineup, Vladislav Namestnikov stepped in and scored in the second period, showing the Jets' resilience. Coach Arniel praised his team for stepping up in such situations, stressing its importance for the remaining game:
Scheifele ended the regular season with a commendable 39 goals and 87 points, playing in all 82 games for the Manitoba team. With Scheifele out, the Jets are already without forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who is recovering from a right foot injury. Ehlers has resumed skating but remains unavailable for Game 6.
Despite the injuries, the Jets are one win away from advancing to the second round for the first time since 2021. The series is currently 3-2 in favor of the Jets, with home teams winning every game so far. If a seventh game is necessary, it will take place on Sunday at the Canada Life Centre.
The Blues, bolstered by their 14-game winning streak at the Enterprise Center, will be looking to turn the tide in their favor. The series has already seen a physical escalation, with Schenn's hit and subsequent scrum with Brandon Tanev indicating rising tensions between the Central Division rivals. No supplemental discipline is expected for Schenn or Faksa, and Scheifele’s availability for a potential Game 7 remains uncertain pending further evaluation.
The Winnipeg Jets will be without Mark Scheifele for Game 6 due to an upper-body injury, as he was substituted after two heavy hits in Game 5.
Vladislav Namestnikov filled in for Scheifele, scoring in the second period to showcase the team's resilience.
Despite being without Scheifele and forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who is still recovering from a foot injury, the Jets are one win away from advancing to the second round for the first time since 2021.
The Blues, with their impressive 14-game winning streak at the Enterprise Center, will aim to flip the series in their favor, given the physical nature the series has taken on.
