Ehlers looks ready for return in do-or die Game 5 against Vegas

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This article was published 26/04/2023 (913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAS VEGAS — Nikolaj Ehlers has dominated a good chunk of the narrative coming out of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series between his Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights.

All while not logging a single second of ice time, the result of an upper-body injury the speedy forward suffered late in a 3-1 playoff-clinching win over the Minnesota Wild in the second-last regular-season game of the year.

That could very well change as the Jets get ready to play a win-or-go-home Game 5 in Vegas Thursday night, with Ehlers once again being considered a game-time decision. It’s been the same status ever since Ehlers found himself on the receiving end of a dirty hit by Wild forward Ryan Hartman (Hartman was assessed a flimsy one-game suspension for the illegal play), including all four playoff games up to this point.

There’s a different feeling to this one, even if there’s a chance the result could be the same. With the Jets as battered as any team in the playoffs, and certainly more than most, the potential return of one of the team’s most talented offensive players brings some much-needed hope to a club that certainly could use some positive vibes right now.

“He’ll be re-evaluated in the morning. He got through practice fine,” Jets head coach Rick Bowness said following practice Wednesday. “We had him do some pushing and shoving. We’ll see how he handles this and see how he feels (Thursday) morning, and we’ll make the call.”

While the words appear similar to what Bowness has said all playoffs regarding Ehlers’ availability, there are some clues he’s gearing for a return. As mentioned, Ehlers took some contact at practice, something he’d been yet to do despite skating now for more than a week.

Bowness also said Ehlers looked better than he ever has since the injury on April 11.

“We all wish we could skate one day in our lives like he can skate. But, yeah, he looked great out there today,” added Bowness. “When we did push him a little bit (before), that’s when he knew he couldn’t play, and he wasn’t ready to play. Today, we pushed him hard and that’s why we have to wait and see how he feels.”

To call this season a roller-coaster for the 27-year-old Ehlers would be understating the emotional toll he’s gone through. He lasted just two games into the regular season before a sports hernia sidelined him for the next 34, limiting him to just more than half (45) of an 82-game season. He has missed at least nine games in each of his last five seasons.

The hernia injury came with plenty of questions early on, notably a decision among the team’s doctors to forego surgery to see if it could heal on its own, only to eventually go forward with the operation. Ehlers had spoken twice this playoffs before addressing the media again on Thursday, and while some might have viewed him telling reporters that he felt good enough to play as a form of gamesmanship at the most important time of the year, it’s clear Ehlers desperately wanted to join his teammates.

“It’s been a tough couple of years, and especially this year, where this group has been as tight as it has been. I really wanted to be out there and play with these guys,” Ehlers said, while getting a bit emotional. “When I said that I really felt like I was ready to play Game 1, once I got out there, I didn’t feel the way I thought I would. You can ask every single guy in here, we want to play. I’ve played with a broken foot before. I’ve played with broken other bones. You want to be out there and battle with these guys as much as possible.”

If Ehlers is cleared to play, line combinations at practice suggest he’ll be assigned to the left wing, with Vladislav Namestnikov at centre and Nino Niederreiter playing the right side. Even if he does play, it’s not exactly an easy task to simply jump in late into an intense playoff series.

Ehlers’ game is centred around his speed, so how might his legs feel after the layoff from game action? Will he be the same player capable of creating offence off the rush — something the Jets desperately need against a stingy Golden Knights defence — as well as a weapon on the power play?

Where might he be limited?

“You’re not going to get an answer on that one. I feel good,” Ehlers said. “I won’t get up to speed until I play a game. You can practise as much as you want, you won’t get that same feeling out there as you would in a game. I’ll do my best.”

The Jets can only hope he’ll finally get the chance on Thursday.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton