Jets lose Scheifele, Laine and Game One in 4-1 Loss to Flames

Game one of their Stanley Cup qualifying round series against the Calgary Flames was nothing short of a nightmare for the Winnipeg Jets.

The 4-1 loss–in which the Jets were outshot 33-18, went 0/7 on the power play and sacrificed a shorthanded goal against–was one thing. But the players who left the game was a whole other monster.

Just over five minutes into the first period, Mark Scheifele left the game after Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk collided with him. Scheifele was in a considerable amount of pain when he left the ice, putting no pressure on his injured foot. Scheifele’s injury triggered the Jets’ implosion from thereon out.

Unfortunately for the Jets, Scheifele wasn’t their only star to leave the game. Midway through the third period, Patrik Laine left the game and favored his hand while conversing with Winnipeg’s trainers on the bench.

According to Murat Ates of The Athletic, Paul Maurice told reporters postgame that both players will see specialists tomorrow.

Losing your number one centre in the playoffs is going to be a huge blow to any team. But if the Jets’ play after Scheifele’s injury is any indication of how the Jets are going to look from here on out, the nail could already be in the coffin that contains Winnipeg’s playoff chances.

Odds are, Blake Wheeler–who has filled in down the middle when needed– shifts over to the centre position. Regardless if that happens or not, Maurice is going to have to do some serious tinkering to his forward group and with the Jets already down 1-0 in the best-of-five series, he doesn’t have any time to experiment line combinations through trial and error.

Connor–Wheeler–Roslovic

Ehlers-Eakin-Laine

Perreault-Lowry-Copp

Harkins-Shore-Appelton

The Jets got off just four shots on net throughout their seven (!!) power play opportunities. So that means the Jets recorded a mere 0.57 shots per power play.

Those are some strong words from Maurice.

The Jets, who could possibly be short of both Scheifele and Laine, will square off against the Flames on Monday afternoon at 1:30 pm.