The Winnipeg Jets will be without forward forward Nikolaj Ehlers for the rest of the road trip and probably longer.
Ehlers left Tuesday’s game in the third period after receiving a cruel knee-to-knee hold from Washington Capitals defender Dmitry Orlov.
No penalty was called for the play, but Orlov was called to the mat on Wednesday. After a trial with the league, Orlov was suspended for two games due to knees.
Ehlers was scheduled to see a doctor on Wednesday to have his knee injury fully assessed, but he will certainly not play in the last three games of the road trip.
“He has an appointment this afternoon,” said head coach Dave Lowry. “He will be evaluated and then we will be able to provide an update.
“I will tell you this: he will not be available for tomorrow or the weekend.”
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The Jets are already without injured forwards Blake Wheeler, David Gustafsson and CJ Suess, while Paul Stastny has missed their last three games after being placed in COVID protocol.
Wheeler is getting closer to returning from a knee injury he sustained five weeks ago, but is not expected to play on Thursday.
The loss of Ehlers still leaves a big hole in the series, but it probably ensures that newcomer Cole Perfetti stays at the parent club for the time being.
“Nikky is a very dynamic player,” Lowry said. “Every time you lose a player in your top six, you will feel it. But like we said, the expectation is that someone else will have to come in and fill that place. It becomes opportunity.
“Cole was a beneficiary of that and he played well enough to justify another look.”
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The Jets continue their four-game drive against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
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