Jets’ Neal Pionk week to week with lower-body damage: How Winnipeg will address lack of defenseman

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk will miss time with a lower-body damage, coach Scott Arniel confirmed Friday. Pionk’s damage places speedy pressure on the Jets’ protection and their depth given the heavy minutes he performs at even power and on each particular groups.

Pionk appeared to twist his leg throughout a collision with Rangers ahead Brennan Othmann within the third interval of Tuesday’s recreation. He left the sport instantly, holding his foot off the ice, and sat on the Jets’ bench in obvious ache with out heading to the Jets’ room. He later returned to the sport, ending with a season-low 16:18 seconds of ice time, in comparison with a median of over 22 minutes per recreation this season.

Arniel stated Pionk had performed via the damage for a while earlier than Tuesday’s incident with Othmann, however they’re shutting him down now with the playoffs in thoughts. Pionk has performed via all method of pains earlier than — together with a damaged foot — and tried to get via this damage too.

“We’re going to want him for the long term right here. As a lot as he desires to play, that is the fitting resolution,” Arniel stated.

With out Pionk, the Jets will broaden the roles of depth defencemen Colin Miller and Luke Schenn, who they acquired on the 2024 and 2025 commerce deadlines.

Miller has performed 48 video games on the third pair this season however will take over for Pionk on the second unit on the staff’s energy play. Tuesday was Schenn’s first recreation for Winnipeg since being acquired from Pittsburgh final week; he began on the third pair however performed shutdown minutes with the Rangers’ goalie pulled on the finish of the sport.

Right here’s how Winnipeg’s traces and pairings will look on Friday towards Dallas:

What does this imply for the Jets’ playoff run?

Winnipeg is in first place within the NHL and enters Friday’s video games with an eight-point lead on Dallas for first place within the Central Division. It appears like a commanding lead, however Dallas has management of its future, too: Not solely do the Stars have two video games in hand, however the groups play on Friday and once more on April 10. Dallas can tie Winnipeg by successful their head-to-head matchups in addition to their two video games in hand.

The Jets’ focus is on ending in first place, thereby avoiding the Stars and Avalanche within the first spherical of a hotly contested Central Division. That’s why Arniel declined to speak about protecting different Jets gamers out of recreation motion.

“I’m not getting too far down the highway right here,” Arniel stated. “There’s an excessive amount of happening. We nonetheless have two large western journeys to go right here. We’ll fear about that after we get across the finish of the yr, however the large image is just too large now.”

Can Schenn and Miller deal with their new jobs?

Schenn was all the time going to be an possibility for Arniel to make use of in key defensive moments. Schenn’s measurement, power and the standard of his defense-first method make him a great shutdown defenceman. He’ll play with Dylan Samberg — a youthful, extra cellular model of the identical shutdown defenceman — on the Jets second pair. One imagines a heavy dose of shifts beginning within the defensive zone and hovering shot-block totals; Schenn blocked 5 in 16 minutes of play throughout his Jets debut.

The chance is that Schenn and Samberg wrestle to maneuver the puck up ice. Schenn was good Tuesday, making a number of quick passes that launched stress and helped Winnipeg get out of its zone. Samberg has had plenty of success in that regard this season, too. Each gamers could also be underrated by way of their puck motion however neither is elite.

Miller will play on the third pair with Haydn Fleury, whereas additionally taking on for Pionk on the Jets’ second power-play unit.

The Fleury/Miller pairing has been outscored 6-1 at five-on-five in 116 minutes this season whereas controlling 57 p.c of shot makes an attempt and 56 p.c of anticipated targets. In an even bigger pattern measurement, their purpose numbers ought to enhance in accordance with their management of the play. Winnipeg’s coaches do a terrific job sheltering their third pairing; whereas Schenn simply graduated to a gentle dose of Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston and firm, Miller will spend extra of his night time taking part in towards backside six competitors.

Miller’s shot is a rocket; it must be an asset on the second PP unit. He doesn’t have as a lot subtlety to his offensive recreation as Pionk, although. Pionk can hearth a tough one-timer, too, whereas additionally shifting the puck properly within the offensive zone and getting the puck to the online for deflections with a wide selection of well-placed wrist pictures that beat the primary layer of protection.

Ought to we rethink the Jets’ commerce deadline?

“We talked going into the deadline that depth was our No. 1 and no matter occurred aside from that may be a bonus,” Arniel stated Friday. “In case you have plans to play into June, you’re going to want your (full) roster. It’s been confirmed. Accidents occur. Conditions occur. You must go deep. It occurred somewhat sooner than I hoped however, on the finish of the day, I’m glad we’ve got Luke for it.”

With out Schenn, the Jets may very well be in a state of affairs the place Miller will get promoted to the second pair and a few mixture of Fleury, Logan Stanley or Ville Heinola play on the third pairing. It doesn’t encourage confidence — notably towards the West’s prime groups. With Schenn, you possibly can see a approach via the stretch run to Pionk’s return whereby the Jets keep their prime seed.

An alternate can be true: Had the Jets been capable of decide up Rasmus Ristolainen or Jamie Oleksiak, they’d be even higher insulated than they’re now.

However Schenn has performed up the lineup earlier than, together with two years in the past alongside Morgan Rielly because the Toronto Maple Leafs lastly obtained out of the primary spherical. He’s proven himself to be able to the job Winnipeg will ask of him now.

What they’re saying

Dylan Samberg, on taking part in with out Pionk.

“It’s clearly unlucky, however it’s what it’s. Schenner is a good man and he’s already taught me so much right here. He’s obtained plenty of knowledge so I’m excited to play with him.”

(Photograph: Bruce Bennett / Getty Photos)