WINNIPEG — Speedy forward Nikolaj Ehlers will be sidelined for a third straight playoff game when the Winnipeg Jets host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Jets head coach Rick Bowness said Ehlers hasn't received medical clearance to play.
“He's not going to play until the doctors give him clearance,” Bowness said. “He will not play until that happens. That has not happened. We'll see how he feels tomorrow.”
The winger nicknamed "Fly" practised with the team in Nevada but missed Winnipeg's 5-1 victory Tuesday and Vegas's 5-2 win on Thursday.
Game 4 goes Monday in Manitoba.
Ehlers was injured in an April 11 regular-season game against Minnesota when Wild forward Ryan Hartman hit him while the Danish winger didn't have the puck.
“Give him credit because he wants to play, so his heart's in the right place,” Bowness said.
Ehlers cleared concussion protocol but missed the team's final regular-season game.
He told reporters before the playoffs he was ready to play, but is still out with an upper-body injury.
Ehlers also had a rough start to the regular season. He was injured in Winnipeg's first game and ended up having sports hernia surgery. After missing 36 games, he returned and finished the campaign with 38 points in 45 games (12 goals, 26 assists).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2023.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
