Jets’ center Mark Scheifele out day-to-day with lower-body injury

Scheifele went down the tunnel in the last minute of the first frame in apparent discomfort after becoming entangled with Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson during a 2-1 home victory; he left the game for good early in the second period.

Winnipeg bench boss Rick Bowness told the media that Scheifele may not miss tomorrow’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. That his top centerman is an option to return so soon is heartening news for Bowness and the Jets.

Winnipeg fans will be equally relieved to learn about the minor severity of the injury, as Scheifele has a long history of knee issues that have interrupted an otherwise dominant career. 

If Scheifele is not on hand for the contest against Philadelphia, the recently returned Rasmus Kupari, a former Kings first-rounder acquired in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade, will likely draw into the lineup.

Scheifele has centered a top line of Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabe Vilardi during a white-hot winter for the first-placed Jets; the three have been dominant in the absence of top sniper Kyle Connor, combining for 46 points in 45 games since the American went down. 

Winnipeg has lost in regulation just once in that time frame, and while Scheifele, Ehlers, and Villardi have kept their offense afloat, top defenseman Josh Morrisey and superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck have led the NHL’s second-stingiest defense during their month-long points streak.

The Jets sit atop the NHL standings through 41 games, and injuries have been the only real obstacle for their well-rounded unit. When Scheifele, and later Connor, return to the fold, Winnipeg will have every chance to wrest the Central Division crown from the Dallas Stars.