Winnipeg Jets Face Game 7 Without Star Forward Mark Scheifele
In a dramatic twist that could significantly impact the outcome of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series, the Winnipeg Jets will be without their star forward, Mark Scheifele, for the crucial Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. This announcement was made by Jets’ coach Scott Arniel, who confirmed that Scheifele will not be playing due to an undisclosed injury.
The news came after the team’s morning skate, where it was clear that Scheifele, who was injured in Game 5, would not be able to participate. He played only 8:05 in the first period of that game before exiting and subsequently did not travel with the team to St. Louis for Game 6. Initially, Arniel had left the door open for Scheifele’s return, stating he was a game-time decision for Game 7. However, despite Scheifele skating in a track suit on Saturday and reportedly feeling better, he was unable to join the Jets’ on-ice session by Sunday, sealing his fate for the game.
The absence of Scheifele, 32, is a significant blow to the Jets, who had initially taken a 2-0 lead in the series against the Blues. However, St. Louis mounted a comeback with two consecutive wins to tie the series at 2-2. Notably, the home team has emerged victorious in each game of this best-of-seven series, adding another layer of intrigue to the upcoming showdown.
Winnipeg’s task of closing out the series against St. Louis becomes even more daunting without Scheifele. The team has already been grappling with the inconsistent performance of their goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, which has been a major storyline throughout the series. Hellebuyck was pulled in all three of his starts at St. Louis, conceding a total of 16 goals on 66 shots, resulting in a .758 save percentage. In Game 6, he allowed four goals in just 5 minutes and 23 seconds of the second period.
Despite these struggles, Hellebuyck was a cornerstone for Winnipeg during the regular season, earning nominations for both the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy thanks to his stellar performance, which included a .925 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average.
As the Jets prepare for this pivotal game, the stakes are high. The winner of Sunday’s clash will advance to face the Dallas Stars in a second-round matchup, a prospect that adds even more pressure to an already intense situation.
- Mark Scheifele will not play in Game 7 due to an undisclosed injury.
- Winnipeg Jets initially led the series 2-0 before the St. Louis Blues tied it 2-2.
- Connor Hellebuyck has been pulled in all three of his starts at St. Louis.
- The winner of Game 7 will face the Dallas Stars in the next round.
As fans and analysts alike gear up for what promises to be a thrilling Game 7, the absence of Scheifele looms large. Will the Jets be able to overcome this setback and advance, or will the Blues capitalize on this opportunity to move forward in the playoffs? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: hockey fans are in for an exciting conclusion to this series.
Originally Written by: Kristen Shilton
