Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele a game-time decision for Game 7 against Blues

Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates his overtime game-winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks in NHL action in Winnipeg, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele skated on Saturday morning and was listed as a game-time decision for Game 7 of the team’s first-round NHL playoff series against the St. Louis Blues.

Scheifele, who left Game 5 due to an unspecified injury, was not with the team for its 5-2 road loss to the Blues on Friday night that evened the best-of-seven series. The deciding game is set for Sunday night at Canada Life Centre.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel said it was a “great sign” that Scheifele was back on the ice.

“(He) feels a lot better today than he did (Friday),” Arniel said. “He wanted to go out and see how he felt and we’ll move forward.”

The top-line centre had six points (two goals, four assists) in the series before leaving after the first period of the Jets’ 5-3 win on Wednesday. Scheifele took a couple punishing bodychecks and did not return after the intermission.

“Progression today (and he) might be in there (Sunday),” Arniel said. “We’ll wait and see but at the end of the day that’s just part of what happens in playoff hockey.

“If you want to move on you’ve got to step up. Everybody needs to step up and do a little bit more. And sometimes you’ve got to come outside of your skin a little bit and do something that maybe you’re not necessarily known to do. But hopefully that helps us have the winning result.”

Scheifele, who was sporting a tracksuit for the skating session, had 87 points (39 goals, 48 assists) in the regular season.

The home team has won every game in the series so far. The Jets rallied in Game 5 after two losses at Enterprise Center with star goalie Connor Hellebuyck being pulled in both games.

The Blues used a four-goal spurt in the second period of Game 6 to jump out to a big lead and eventually force Hellebuyck from the game once again.

The top-seeded Jets should get a lift from a boisterous Canada Life Centre crowd that will be in full whiteout mode.

“It’s Game 7,” Arniel said. “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 group is prepared. Now we go out and do what we do best.”

It’s the first time that the Jets will host a Game 7. They’re the only NHL team with a perfect Game 7 record (1-0), winning 5-1 in the second round at Nashville in 2018.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2025.

The Canadian Press