6:00 pm CT – TV: Sportsnet/CBC; Radio: 680 CJOB/Power 97
WINNIPEG – For those hoping for the dramatic return of Mark Scheifele, you will have to wait.
Mark Scheifele will not play in the biggest contest of the year, Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues at Canada Life Centre. The winner of tonight’s game (6 CT) will face the Dallas Stars in the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Jets centreman skated yesterday in a track suit but did not take part of the morning skate and will miss his second straight game and clearly this is a huge challenge for Winnipeg.
“That’s just the challenge that we’ve run into all year long. We’ve run into it in this series, without Gabe and Nik. We’ve done it all year long,” said Scott Arniel.
“And that’s just part of sort of our group that know 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.”
So, Vladislav Namestnikov will once again centre the Jets top line with Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi. Namestnikov scored the game winning goal in Game 5, the first time he had to fill in for Scheifele in this series.
“He’s kind of a player that’s really easy to play with. he does everything really well and supports the play all throughout the zones and battles really hard and competes. Actually, there’s familiarity there with Gabe throughout the whole year,” said Connor.
“We had big success in our game at home, Game 5, and I think we just have to build on that and obviously we didn’t like our game in their building last game. As a line too, I think we have a lot more to give and we’re going to be up for this one. We’ll be excited.”
Make sure you watch the pregame show “The Check In” at 12:30 CT with Sara Orlesky and Jamie Thomas.
Logan Stanley will be a game time decision, Haydn Fleury would replace him if he’s unable to go tonight.
This will be the second Game 7 for the Jets in their franchise history, the last one came eight years ago when they beat Nashville 5-1 to advance to the West Conference final. Scheifele played a large role in that game scoring twice, Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves on 37 shots. There are plenty of the players on today’s roster that were in Nashville like Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, Brandon Tanev and Adam Lowry.
“I’m hoping that those guys can maybe talk to the guys who haven’t (played in a Game 7 before). As I mentioned to the team, if you haven’t been through it yet, this is your chance,” said Arniel.
“Go make a lasting impression in your minds and a memory so that you have it maybe for the next series. It’s just something that is part of your growth as a player. Those guys who have it already, you want to build on it.”
One of the players who will be taking part in his first Game 7, is defenceman Dylan Samberg. If he has any nerves, one thing he can lean on is the fact that the Jets have been able to stay within structure whenever they have played on home ice.
“I just feel we’ve been really solid all year at home. We know that and we’re comfortable playing here and the crowd really helps as well,” said Samberg.
“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.”
While Jets fans come into this game nervous about the outcome especially after missing out on the last chance to clinch, Morgan Barron feels there isn’t a whole lot the Jets need to change heading into the winner takes all contest.
“So, to me, the structure we played with all year, the principles we’ve played with all year led to our success throughout the regular season and I believe when we do those things, we’re successful in the playoffs as well,” said Barron.
“Just kind of a matter of putting it all together and we’re confident we’re going to do that (Sunday) night.”
The Jets will look to maintain the trend of home team success both in these playoffs (31-15) and within the series, which has seen the hosts post a perfect 6-0 record and outscore the visitors 29-12 so far. Eleven series in NHL history have seen home teams go 7-0, most recently in the 2022 First Round matchup between the Hurricanes and Bruins.
Another first heading into tonight is that this is the first Game 7 played in the Manitoba capital.
“Hopefully it has a great ending to it. All year long we’ve put our work in to build towards this. We’ve talked about these situations and certain things that have happened over the course of the year that we don’t know when it’ll rise in the playoffs but now it’s here. Now it’s here. It’s Game 7,” said Arniel.
“We’ve gone through building blocks to get here. To get to this moment. Whether that was through the 82 games, or the six games we have just played, these are all things that now (we) put it on the line here for Game 7 and I’d like to think our groups prepared.”
Winnipeg will be the 22nd Presidents’ Trophy winners to contest a Game 7 (14-11 in 25 GP) and eighth to do so in the opening round (4-3). The Jets can join the 2011 Canucks (vs. CHI), 1992 Rangers (vs. NJD), 1990 Bruins (vs. HFD) and 1989 Flames (vs. VAN) as Presidents’ Trophy winners with a Game 7 win in the opening round.
