Vilardi set to return for Jets as pressure builds on a crucial Game 5
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Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is set to return to the lineup in time for Wednesday's crucial Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues.
Jets head coach Scott Anriel said Vilardi should play Wednesday after being cleared for contact. The 25-year-old centre participated in battle drills during Monday's optional practice in his latest step forward.
Monday was his third straight day working in a regular jersey as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury that has kept him out since late March. He returned to practice one week ago on April 21.
Vilardi was a game-time decision and participated in warmups ahead of Game 4 on Sunday against the Blues, but did not play. It was his 15th straight missed game. He had the best season of his career in 2024-25, tallying 27 goals and 34 assists for 61 points in 71 games. He has appeared in 12 career playoff games, recording two goals and eight points split between the Los Angeles Kings and Jets.
The Jets took the first two games of the first-round series but the Blues won both Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis, evening the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. Game 5 will go Wednesday night in Winnipeg.
Pressure building ahead of Game 5
After losing their 2-0 series lead, the pressure is building on the Jets with a spotlight on star netminder Connor Hellebuyck.
After leading the league with 47 wins and posting a .925 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average in the regular season, Hellebuyck’s first-round save percentage this year is .817 and his GAA sits at 4.24.
Hellebuyck was pulled in favour of Eric Comrie for the second straight game Sunday, three days after he was lifted early in Game 3. Including the regular season and playoffs, it’s just the second time in Hellebuyck’s career he had been pulled in two straight games.
"I know how it needs to look," Hellebuyck said of his goaltending on Monday. "I like a lot of things. I’m not gonna go and make huge changes. That being said, I’m going to be better. That’s my job and that’s the foot that I’m putting forward. I can’t be giving up this many goals.”
Hellebuyck is expected to win his second consecutive Vezina Trophy and third overall later this spring after being nominated as a finalist Monday and contributed to the Jets winning the Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals against in the league during the regular season.
The 31-year-old has allowed 15 goals against the Blues through four games, with only a 17-save performance in the team's 2-1 Game 2 win seeing him post a save percentage above .825.
“Am I gonna be better? I am gonna be better," Hellebuyck added. "I’ve studied goaltending extremely hard. I’ve probably studied it the most out of anyone in this world, so I know what to do & how to get my best game, so that’s what I’m looking forward to doing.”