The Winnipeg Jets will be without a key forward for the start of the playoffs as Nikolaj Ehlers is out week-to-week after reaggravating a lower-body injury, as per head coach Scott Arniel.
Ehlers re-aggravated the injury in the second period of Saturday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks when he and a linesman got tied up at the blue line. Ehlers could not put any weight on his leg after the collision and did not return.
That game was Ehlers’ second back from the injury he initially suffered in the 4-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on April 3. He took an absolute beating in that contest as in the first period, he blocked a hard Nicolas Hague shot with his leg that hobbled him significantly and in the third period, took some friendly fire to the same leg in the form of a Cole Perfetti shot during a power play. The latter shot forced his exit.
Related: Jets Glad to Win Presidents’ Trophy But Remain Focused on Winning Stanley Cup
Ehlers’ absence will be a big blow to the Jets, who won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history and will be looking for a bounce-back postseason performance after being crushed in the first round a year ago. The Dane has been a big part of their top six and first power-play unit, scoring 24 goals and adding 39 assists for 63 points in 69 games.
The Jets have one more regular-season game to go, on Wednesday when they host the Anaheim Ducks, with Game 1 of their first-round series to go either Saturday or Sunday at Canada Life Centre.