The Winnipeg Jets will have to try to keep their season alive without defenceman Brenden Dillon and forward Vladislav Namestnikov — but will get Cole Perfetti to help out their chances.
Head coach Rick Bowness ruled out both players for Tuesday’s Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche. Ahead of the possible elimination game, Perfetti told reporters he was pumped to make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
Namestnikov suffered a fractured cheekbone when a puck hit him on the left side of his face in Game 4 against Colorado. The forward suffered no orbital bone damage to his eye.
Namestnikov was trying to jump out of the way of a shot from teammate Nate Schmidt when the puck hit a stick and struck him. Namestnikov stayed down on the ice as trainers rushed out. He skated off with help and exited through the Avalanche bench in the third period. The 31-year-old Namestnikov had a towel pressed to his face.
Dillon suffered a deep cut on his hand that required stitches. Dillon was apparently cut by a skate blade during a scrum after the final horn. He skated toward the locker room holding his bleeding hand.
The injury kept the defenceman out of the lineup for Game 4.
Game 5 between the Jets, who are down 3-1 in the series, and Avalanche is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. CT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.