NHL Playoffs Buzz: Ehlers returns for Jets against Blues

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Winnipeg Jets

Nikolaj Ehlers returned for the Jets against the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at Enterprise Center on Friday.

Ehlers hadn't played since he sustained a lower-body injury during a 4-0 win at the Vegas Golden Knights on April 3 after he took pucks off his foot as well as the inside of his leg on two separate plays. He missed two games and then reaggravated it on April 12, his second game back.

On Friday, Ehlers was at left wing on the second line with center Adam Lowry and right wing Cole Perfetti. He was also on the top power-play unit with forwards Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi, Perfetti and defenseman Josh Morrissey.

His return came at a good time for the Jets, who were without top-line center Mark Scheifele, who sustained an undisclosed injury in a 5-3 win in Game 5 on Wednesday.

"Obviously, when 'Scheif’s' out of the game, it's a huge void, no doubt about it," Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo said Thursday. "Fantastic player, does just so much for our group, offensively and defensively, but you saw guys step up [Wednesday], and that's what we've been preaching all year, is our depth and guys stepping up, more ice time, different roles, whatever it may be. And I think everybody collectively stepped up and did a great job yesterday."

The Jets lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 and can advance to the second round for the first time since 2021 with a win on Friday. -- Tracey Myers

Dallas Stars

Jason Robertson has been upgraded to day to day, Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Thursday.

Robertson, who led the Stars with 35 goals in the regular season, sustained a lower-body injury at the Nashville Predators on April 16 and has not played in the Western Conference First Round against the Colorado Avalanche. Game 7 will be in Dallas on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).

The forward is skating and doing a little more each day, DeBoer said.

"I would say he's definitely not week to week," DeBoer said. "I would call him more day to day now. He's starting to get into that area, so he's still got some hurdles to go."

Miro Heiskanen, the Stars' No. 1 defenseman, is skating with the team but remains out with a lower-body injury. He hasn't played since Jan. 28.

Defenseman Nils Lundkvist is skating but further from a return. He hasn't played since Jan. 21 and was expected to be out for the season recovering from shoulder surgery.

"I guess if we played deep enough into the playoffs, they might revisit that, but we're not in that neighborhood," DeBoer said. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika