The Jets could once again be ending their postseason without the services of forward Mark Scheifele.
The Winnipeg center left Game 4 against the Golden Knights with an undisclosed upper-body injury and did not return. His status for the rest of the series is up in the air.
If Scheifele cannot return, it would mark the third postseason in a row where Winnipeg ends its playoff bid with Scheifele out of the lineup.
In 2020, the forward was injured by Matthew Tkachuk in Game 1 of the Jets' qualifying series against the Flames and did not get to return. In 2021, Scheifele was serving a suspension for his hit on Canadiens forward Jake Evans when the Jets were knocked out by the Habs in the second round.
The Jets already are facing an uphill battle down 3-1 in the series to the Golden Knights. After securing a win in Game 1, Winnipeg dropped three straight, including two at home, to fall behind in the series.
The club is already without top defenseman Josh Morrissey and forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Cole Perfetti and Sam Gagner.
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The Sporting News has the latest on Scheifele's injury and his status for the rest of the series.
Mark Scheifele injury update
Scheifele was injured during the first period of Game 4 on Monday night. The forward was tripped up by Vegas goaltender Laurent Brossoit on a rush attempt and crashed into the boards at a high speed.
A massively blown tripping call against Brossoit on Mark Scheifele. Took out another key piece to the jets, i'm at a point where i despise my hometown team. #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/z6GEW2P8Oq
— x - JPet27 (@JPetschauer) April 25, 2023
He went out for one more shift after the collision into the boards but immediately went down the tunnel after a shot attempt on a power play. He appeared to be laboring his upper body.
Mark Scheifele went right down the tunnel and into the locker room after this shot on the power play#GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/33NOC8qiMX
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) April 25, 2023
The Jets later ruled Scheifele out for the rest of the game. He played just
Is Mark Scheifele playing in Game 5?
Jets head coach Rick Bowness said on Wednesday that Scheifele is won't be available for Game 5. While he said that he was "doing better" and the team was "hopefuly" for his return Thursday, it won't happen.
#NHLJets HC Rick Bowness said C Mark Scheifele is officially out for Game 5. Not yet ruled out for Game 6, if there is one.
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) April 26, 2023
Bowness did not rule out Scheifele for Game 6, however, the Jets must win in Game 5 to force another game in the series.
