The highest-seeded Jets will enter Saturday’s elimination recreation in Dallas with heavy hearts following the surprising demise of the daddy of ahead Mark Scheifele.
Brad Scheifele died all of a sudden in a single day, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff instructed reporters earlier than Saturday’s recreation towards the Stars, who maintain a 3-2 lead within the Western Convention semifinals.
Scheifele was not in attendance at Saturday’s elective morning skate, and it was unclear if the 14-year NHL veteran would play in Recreation 6.
“We wish to give [Mark’s] family our most sincere condolences and obviously ask that everybody respect his and their privacy at this time,” Cheveldayoff mentioned, including that Dallas coach Scott Arniel had returned to the staff’s resort to help Scheifele.
The 32-year-old middle is second on the staff in playoff factors with 4 targets and 6 assists after notching 39 targets and a career-best 87 factors throughout the common season.
Scheifele’s teammates had been notified of his father’s passing Saturday morning, in line with Cheveldayoff.
“It’s a terrible loss,” Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry mentioned. “It’s robust to place into phrases how gutted all of us really feel for Mark and his household.
“That’s such a big loss, that’s your mentor, that’s the person you looked up to growing up. That’s the person you want to be like. So I think there’s just a lot of little things that you’ve got to do to really make sure Mark feels supported today and moving forward.”
The Jets, the Presidents’ Trophy winners this 12 months with a league-best 116 factors (56-22-4), want a street win Saturday evening to drive a decisive Recreation 7 on Monday at house.
