Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele won't play in his team's do-or-die Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday due to an upper-body injury suffered in Game 4, head coach Rick Bowness announced, per TSN's John Lu.

Bowness added that the main issue with Scheifele's injury is his limited range of motion. However, he's not yet ruled out for Game 6 if the Jets can extend the series, which they currently trail 3-1.

Scheifele played just 1:40 in Game 4 before departing after a shot attempt on the power play.

But earlier in the contest, he crashed hard into the boards after getting tripped by Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit.

Scheifele led the Jets with a career-high 42 goals during the regular season.

The Jets are already without top blue-liner Josh Morrissey, who was ruled out for the remainder of the series after getting hurt in Game 3. Winger Nikolaj Ehlers has yet to play this postseason, but he's a game-time decision for Game 5.

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Following a three-game suspension, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting will be a healthy scratch for Thursday's Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Wednesday.

"It's not an easy decision," Keefe said, according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke. "The message was he'll get back in, just not tomorrow."

Bunting received a three-game ban from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Erik Cernak during Toronto's Game 1 loss. The Leafs have reeled off three straight victories in his absence.

"We're comfortable with the group that’s won three games in a row," Keefe added.

During Wednesday's practice, the Leafs rolled out the same line combinations the club used to finish Game 4's overtime win.

Bunting finished fifth on the Leafs in goals (23) and points (49) in 82 games during the regular season. But rookie Matthew Knies has carved out a top-six role for himself in Bunting's absence.

"My job is to be a good teammate in all aspects," Bunting said. "That's what I'm going to keep doing, and I'll wait for my number to be called."

Bunting is no stranger to waiting for his opportunity. After all, it took until last season, his age-26 campaign, before he became a full-time NHLer.

"I've gone through adversity my whole life, and I made it here," he said. "So, it's just another day for me."

Bunting has proven to be a solid third wheel on Toronto's top line over the last couple of campaigns, but his effectiveness has waned the further he's been pushed down the lineup. Over the last two seasons, his five-on-five expected goals share is 47.36% when he's not playing on lines centered by Auston Matthews or John Tavares, per Natural Stat Trick. For comparison, he's posted a 61.07% xGF% with Matthews, and a 52.49% share with Tavares.

The Scarborough, Ontario, native is a pending unrestricted free agent after inking a two-year deal worth $950,000 annually with the Leafs in 2021.

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Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann exited Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche after being interfered with by Cale Makar and did not return.

Makar was initially assessed a five-minute major, but it was reduced to a two-minute minor for interference after review.

McCann needed help leaving the rink.

McCann led the Kraken with 40 goals and 70 points in 79 regular-season games. He's tallied one assist so far in the playoffs.

The Kraken won the contest 3-2 in overtime.

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The Winnipeg Jets were dealt another significant blow during their 4-2 Game 4 loss Monday, as Mark Scheifele was forced to leave with an upper-body injury.

Scheifele exited following a shot attempt during a first-period power play and did not return.

He crashed hard into the boards earlier in the game after being tripped by Vegas Golden Knights netminder Laurent Brossoit.

Jets head coach Rick Bowness said postgame that Scheifele will be re-evaluated Tuesday and his status for the rest of the series is unknown, according to TSN's John Lu.

Scheifele becomes the third key player missing from the Jets' lineup. No. 1 defenseman Josh Morrissey was ruled out for the remainder of the series after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 3, while dynamic forward Nikolaj Ehlers has yet to suit up in the postseason due to an upper-body issue.

Scheifele led the Jets with a career-high 42 goals during the regular season. He's tallied one goal and no assists in these playoffs.

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The New York Rangers were dealt a tremendous opportunity to put the New Jersey Devils on the brink of elimination after winning the first two games on the road, but following back-to-back home losses, the two sides are all square.

Head coach Gerard Gallant was not pleased with his club's effort to put a stranglehold on the series in Monday's Game 4 loss.

"Not good enough," Gallant said postgame. "Not even close to good enough."

He added: "We didn't show up. We didn't play hard enough. We didn't compete hard enough. All we did was yap at the linesmen for getting thrown out of the faceoffs. Lot of bad things tonight."

Gallant was particularly upset with the effort from some of his wingers in the neutral zone.

"Tonight, weak-side winger was a little bit lazy, staying on the other side of the ice to watch the play instead of supporting it," Gallant said. "How many times did you see us whipping pucks across and them picking them off in the middle? Just the old recipe when you look like you're tired or lazy, that's what happens."

Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck, who scored New York's lone goal in the 3-1 loss, lamented the team's struggles while noting it was a tough sledding for both teams.

"I think they had a hard time getting into our end as well," Trocheck said. "A lot of play in the neutral zone. It's playoff hockey. It's clogged up out there."

The Rangers and Devils each recorded 23 shots, but New Jersey registered more quality chances, controlling 66.2% of the expected goals at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.

"We have to do a better job of getting to the middle of the ice and getting more pucks on net," Rangers captain Jacob Trouba added.

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It's safe to say Marcus Foligno wasn't a fan of the officiating in the Minnesota Wild's Game 4 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Referees handed Foligno two penalties in the contest, with both leading to power-play goals for Stars forward Tyler Seguin in what ended up a 3-2 defeat for the Wild.

"It's a joke. It doesn't make any sense," Foligno said postgame, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I go to hit a guy who touches the puck. It's not interference. I go, I get high-sticked in the face. It's not a tripping call when you hit a guy clean on. It's bullshit."

First, Foligno was called for interference on Jani Hakanpaa in the second period.

He then received a penalty for tripping Mason Marchment late in the third frame.

Foligno added that he believes the Stars may have gotten to the officials by complaining about penalty minutes.

"There's just something to be talked about, the physicality part of it. I just feel like it's a little bit chintzy right now," Foligno said. "It doesn't make any sense. This is playoff hockey. You go and hit a guy, and it's not illegal. It's clean, and you're getting called to the penalty box. I don't know. I think, in that sense, maybe they got to them before we did."

Wild head coach Dean Evason wasn't looking to dwell on the calls during his postgame press conference.

"Everyone in the hockey world watched that game. We all know what happened," Evason said, per Bally Sports North. "I'm not going to comment on them. We have our opinions, but what's the point? I hope you can all write about it and talk about it, but there's no point in whining about it now. They're gone."

Evason butted heads earlier in the series with his counterpart, Stars bench boss Pete DeBoer. Evason accused Stars players of diving before DeBoer countered by pointing out the Wild's lack of discipline.

The series shifts back to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday tied at two apiece.

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Chaos ensued in Game 3 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning after Morgan Rielly crunched Brayden Point into the boards.

Point appeared to be favoring his midsection and briefly exited the game before returning.

Rielly was initially given a five-minute major for the hit, but the penalty was reduced after a review. He and Darren Raddysh were given two-minute offsetting roughing minors.

Amid the post-hit skirmish, Auston Matthews and Steven Stamkos dropped the gloves. It was the first career fight for Matthews and the first scrap in NHL history between two 60-goal scorers.

Ryan O'Reilly and Nikita Kucherov were also given fighting majors.

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is in the lineup for Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

The star blue-liner missed Game 2 and the final two periods of Game 1 after suffering an undisclosed injury.

With Hedman returning, Haydn Fleury exited the lineup. Erik Cernak remained out, though, so the Lightning went with the following defense pairs:

Hedman has been a Norris Trophy finalist in each of the last six seasons, winning the award in 2018. He's coming off a down year by his standards, though, as he recorded 49 points - his lowest since 2015-16 - in 76 regular-season games.

The 6-foot-6 Swede has a knack for elevating his game in the playoffs. The 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy winner entered Saturday with 107 points in 156 career postseason contests.

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Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad suffered an injury in his team's 4-2 Game 3 loss to the Boston Bruins after a collision with Charlie McAvoy.

Ekblad immediately went to the dressing room, but he returned moments later to play two more shifts in the second period. However, he missed the final six minutes of the middle frame and didn't return for the third period.

Head coach Paul Maurice said postgame that there was no update on Ekblad and that the defenseman will be evaluated further on Saturday, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Ekblad has had difficulty staying healthy in recent years, missing 53 games over the past three seasons due to various ailments.

The 27-year-old had a down regular season by his standards, recording 14 goals and 24 assists in 71 games. He finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting last year, racking up 57 points in 61 contests.

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Connor Bedard won't suit up for Team Canada at the upcoming 2023 IIHF World Championship, reports Sportsnet's Jeff Marek.

The 17-year-old phenom was considered an option for Canada at the tournament, which begins May 12 in Latvia and Finland.

Bedard is the consensus favorite to be selected first overall at the 2023 NHL Draft. He recorded 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 regular-season games with the WHL's Regina Pats this season. He added 20 points in seven playoff contests before the Pats were eliminated.

The North Vancouver, British Columbia, product represented Canada at the world juniors this year, taking home MVP honors after registering 23 points in seven games en route to a gold medal.

Bedard wouldn't have been the first top draft-eligible prospect to play for Canada at the World Championship. Owen Power was the most recent to do so in 2021.

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