Jets’ Mark Scheifele out for Game 5, questionable for Game 6

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness has announced that forward Mark Scheifele will miss Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 4.

Bowness said Scheifele hasn’t been ruled out for Game 6 on Saturday, assuming the Jets are able to avoid elimination.

Scheifele appeared to have injured his arm just 2:30 into the first period on Monday after tripping over Vegas goaltender Laurent Brossoit and slamming into the boards. Scheifele returned to the ice a few minutes later but left the game for good shortly after.

It was a big blow for the Jets, who already lost defenseman Josh Morrissey after sustaining a lower-body injury in the opening period of Game 3. Morrissey will not return for the rest of the series.

The Jets won the opening game 5-1 over Vegas before dropping Game 2, 5-2. They kept things close over the weekend, but ultimately lost 5-4 in double overtime before losing again 4-2 in Game 4.

The Jets are one of two teams that could be eliminated on Thursday, with Tampa Bay also trailing Toronto 3-1 with the series returning to Canada that day.

Schiefele has one goal in four playoff games this season to go along with 68 points during the regular season. He has had a love-hate relationship with postseason, especially after getting suspended in 2021 for an illegal hit on Montreal’s Jake Evans. 

He has 32 points in 37 games over six playoff runs, and, hopefully for the Jets, his postseason isn’t done just yet.

Nikolaj Ehlers will be a game-time decision for the Jets, having been out for the entire playoffs after suffering an injury late in the regular season.