Jets get boost with Vilardi in for Game 5, Ehlers resumes skating
The Winnipeg Jets are getting some scoring punch back in their lineup. Gabriel Vilardi, who’s been sidelined since March 23 with an upper-body injury, will make his return on Wednesday for Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Scott Arniel and Vilardi told reporters Tuesday, according to The Athletic’s Murat Ates.
The Winnipeg Jets are getting some scoring punch back in their lineup.
Gabriel Vilardi, who’s been sidelined since March 23 with an upper-body injury, will make his return on Wednesday for Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Scott Arniel and Vilardi told reporters Tuesday, according to The Athletic’s Murat Ates.
The 25-year-old forward skated on the Jets’ top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele and was part of their first power-play unit at practice on Tuesday.
Vilardi’s absence has been felt throughout the first round, as Winnipeg has mustered a mere five goals in Games 2 through 4. The Kingston, Ont., native scored a career-high 27 goals this season, including a team-high 12 power-play goals.
Vilardi was a game-time decision for Game 4 and even took warmups before sitting out the contest. Arniel added that he was cleared to play.
In addition to Vilardi, forward Nikolaj Ehlers was on the ice ahead of the team’s practice doing solo drills. The 29-year-old has been out since April 12 with a foot injury.
Ehlers is another forward who could boost the lineup’s scoring. He recorded 24 goals and 63 points during the regular season. However, he will wear a yellow non-contact jersey during tomorrow’s skate.
Arniel added that this is not the first time the forward has been on the ice, as he skated in Winnipeg while the team was in St. Louis, according to the Jets’ colour analyst Mitchell Clinton.
On the other bench, Blues defencman Tyler Tucker is listed as day-to-day and will not play in Game 5, head coach Jim Montgomery announced.
Tucker was injured late in Game 4 and did not return. Prior to the injury, the 25-year-old scored his first post-season goal and logged over 17 minutes of ice time.
