Jets' Scheifele won't play in Game 6 vs. Blues
The Winnipeg Jets will be without first-line center Mark Scheifele for Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, head coach Scott Arniel announced Thursday, according to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Scheifele was hit hard by Brayden Schenn early in the first period of Game 5, then hit again by Radek Faksa later in the opening frame. He departed the contest and didn't return.
Arniel and Blues head coach Jim Montgomery got into a heated exchange postgame about how Scheifele got hurt. Montgomery argued Scheifele was hurt from the Faksa hit, and Arniel clapped back, saying, "I didn't know Monty got his medical degree." Arniel was critical of Schenn's hit.
The Jets coach would not confirm or deny if Scheifele was in concussion protocol. "I'm not going down that road," Arniel said.
Arniel added that winger Nikolaj Ehlers won't play in Game 6, either, but is travelling with the team. Ehlers hasn't played since suffering a foot injury April 12.
Scheifele tallied 39 goals and 48 assists during the regular season, finishing second on the team to Kyle Connor in both categories. Scheifele has added six points in five postseason contests.
The Jets' center depth behind Scheifele consists of Vladislav Namestnikov, Adam Lowry, Morgan Barron, David Gustafsson, and Rasmus Kupari. Wingers Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Perfetti have played center in the past.
Winnipeg holds a 3-2 series lead. Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday.