Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers, right, shoots the puck against Anaheim Ducks defenceman Scott Harrington during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, March 23, 2023. Ehlers will miss Thursday's regular-season finale against the Colorado Avalanche with an upper-body injury, head coach Rick Bowness told reporters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Alex Gallardo
DENVER – Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers will miss Thursday’s regular-season finale against the Colorado Avalanche with an upper-body injury, head coach Rick Bowness told reporters.
Ehlers’ injury occurred Tuesday against Minnesota when Wild forward Ryan Hartman hit the Jets forward when he did not have the puck midway through the third period. Hartman was suspended one game for his actions.
Bowness said Ehlers cleared concussion protocol and would be re-evaluated on Friday, adding that it’s too early to say whether Ehlers is questionable for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Jets will also rest five regulars on Thursday: forwards Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler, and defencemen Josh Morrissey and Nate Schmidt.
Dominic Toninato, who has 33 points in 49 American Hockey League games this season, has been called up from the Manitoba Moose.
Goaltender David Rittich will start in goal for the first time since March 14 after Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck played the last 13 games as the Jets chased down a playoff spot. Winnipeg clinched the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference earlier this week.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023.
