Nikolaj Ehlers’ return to the Winnipeg Jets lineup could provide a much-needed boost as they face elimination in Game 5 of their opening-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Ehlers has been sidelined with an undisclosed upper-body injury for the past five games, but after a mostly playful back-and-forth with the media, he expressed his desire to return and help his team. The season has been a challenging one for Ehlers, who missed 36 games due to a sports hernia surgery, but he battled his way back only to be on the receiving end of an unexpected check that resulted in a one-game suspension. Despite his setbacks, his return could help open up the ice for his team against a deep Golden Knights squad. The Jets are not relying solely on Ehlers’ return, as they need a team effort to stay alive in the postseason.
