WINNIPEG — Mark Scheifele did not play for the Winnipeg Jets against the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round at Canada Life Centre on Sunday.
The center was initially labeled a game-time decision after he skated on his own on Saturday morning, while wearing a tracksuit, after an undisclosed injury forced him to miss a 5-2 loss in Game 6 at St. Louis on Friday that tied the best-of-7 series 3-3.
The 32-year-old took the brunt of several collisions in the first period of Winnipeg’s 5-3 win in Game 5 on Wednesday, including one from Blues captain Brayden Schenn along the boards at 6:12, when Schenn was called for interference, and another open ice hit from forward Radek Faksa at the St. Louis blue line at 17:02. Scheifele remained in the game for the remainder of the period, playing 8:05 with one assist, but did not return for the second period.
Jets coach Scott Arniel ruled Scheifele out for Game 6 before the team traveled to St. Louis on Thursday.
“That’s just the challenge that we’ve run into all year long,” Arniel said after the morning skate Sunday. We’ve run into it all this series without ‘Gabe’ (Gabriel Vilardi, who came back in Game 5) and ‘Nik’ (Nikolaj Ehlers, who returned for Game 6). We’ve done it all year long and that’s just part of our group that knows that they have to step up, next guy has to step up. Whether that’s more opportunity, more ice time, take advantage of it. Do what you can.”
Scheifele was second in scoring for Winnipeg during the regular season with 87 points (39 goals, 48 assists) in 82 games, trailing only forward Kyle Connor’s 97 points (41 goals, 56 assists) to lead the Jets, who won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best record in the NHL (56-22-4).
The home team has won every game of this series; this will be the first Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 7 held in Winnipeg.
It will be the second time the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers have reached a Game 7; Winnipeg defeated the Nashville Predators 5-1 in Game 7 of the 2018 second round.
“I just feel we’ve been really solid all year at home,” Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg said. “We know that and we’re comfortable playing here and the crowd really helps as well. I think we just have to use that home-ice advantage to our advantage and just make sure we stick to the simple details and try not to waver.
“It all comes down to one game, so just making sure we put our best foot forward and leaving it all out there on the ice. There’s going to be a lot of energy out there and it’s going to be exciting. Just making sure we channel that the right way.”
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
