Ice Chips: Ehlers skates for Jets in non-contact jersey
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Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers skated in a non-contact jersey with the team in practice on Wednesday.
Jets coach Scott Arniel told reporters following Tuesday's practice that Ehlers, who is recovering from a foot injury suffered after colliding with an official on April 12, is still "a ways away" from returning.
Arniel also revealed that Ehlers was skating while the team was in St. Louis for Games 3 and 4.
The 29-year-old winger had 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games for the Jets during the regular season.
The Jets and Blues sit tied at two games apiece as the Jets aim to advance to the second round for the first time in four years.
The Jets skated the following lines in practice on Tuesday:
Connor - Scheifele - Vilardi
Iafallo - Namestnikov - Perfetti
Niederreiter - Lowry - Appleton
Tanev - Barron - Anderson-Dolan
Morrissey - DeMelo
Samberg - Pionk
Stanley - Schenn
Hellebuyck
Comrie
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens will not have forward Patrik Laine in their lineup for Game 5 against the Washington Capitals, head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters on Wednesday.
Laine played in the first two games of the series, where he registered an assists and a minus-2 rating in 23:24 of ice time.
Defenceman Alexandre Carrier will be a game-time decision for Montreal. Carrier has a goal and an assist in four games in the series, and has averaged just over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
Carrier was the victim of a heavy hit from Capitals' forward Tom Wilson that left the defenceman shaken up. Washington scored the tying goal in Game 4 moments later as Carrier slowly made his way off the ice.
Washington went on to score three unanswered goals in the final frame to win the game 5-2 and take a 3-1 series lead.
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin is practicing with the Washington Capitals after taking a maintenance day on Tuesday, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News.
Ovechkin made headlines in Game 4 when he laid a massive hit on Montreal's Jake Evans and appeared to make contact to the head of the Canadiens forward.
“I seriously don’t understand why it happened,” said Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes. “I feel like the game was pretty much over when Ovi (Ovechkin) took a hit on Jake. I think it was at least (worth) a suspension for a game, but I guess not.
I feel like it should have been a whistle. It was kind of a scary hit, but I guess the rules don’t apply for everyone in this league. I have no idea,” Dobes said.
Ovechkin shares the series lead in goals (3) and has four points through four games. Earlier in the regular season, Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the all-time lead in NHL goals.
Aliaksei Protas also skated in a regular jersey on Wednesday morning. The forward, who set career highs in goals (30) and points (66), has been out since April 4 with a foot injury.
Protas left the ice at practice with the rest of his teammates, with just F Taylor Raddysh staying behind for extra work. Head coach Spencer Carbery described Protas as a "full go" in practice the past few days.
The team listed him as a game-time decision for Wednesday's Game 5, where Washington has a chance to eliminate the Canadiens, as they enter with a 3-1 series lead.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues skated the following lines in practice on Tuesday.
Buchnevich-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-Schenn-Kyrou
Texier-Sundqvist-Bolduc
Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker
Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk
Suter-Leddy
Binnington in starter’s net
The Blues are tied 2-2 entering Game 5 of their series against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Jets.