DeMelo was unavailable for Thursday's Game 3 versus the Blues due to an illness, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports.
DeMelo took a maintenance day Wednesday, which suggests he's been under the weather for at least a couple of days. With two full days before Game 4, DeMelo should have a decent chance of returning for Sunday's contest.
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Jets' Dylan DeMelo: Out of action Thursday
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DeMelo (undisclosed) is not in the lineup for Thursday's Game 3 versus the Blues, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Colin Miller is expected to take DeMelo's place in the lineup. DeMelo also missed Wednesday's practice for what was originally termed maintenance, but it appears whatever he is dealing with is a little more serious. His next chance to play is Sunday's Game 4 in St. Louis.
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Jets' Connor Hellebuyck: Guarding goal in Game 3
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Hellebuyck will start Thursday's Game 3 on the road versus the Blues, Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Hellebuyck has allowed four goals on 39 shots over the first two games of the series. He's won six consecutive contests dating back to an April 7 win over the Blues in the regular season. Hellebuyck will continue to be the backbone of the Jets' lineup, and he should give them a chance to be competitive every game.
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Jets' Gabriel Vilardi: Not playing Thursday
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Vilardi (upper body) will not play in St. Louis for Game 3 on Thursday, Murat Ates of The Athletic reports.
Vilardi traveled with the Jets to St. Louis ahead of Thursday's game and participated in the morning skate, albeit in a non-contact jersey. Vilardi will miss his 14th straight game and is doubtful for Game 4 on Sunday at this time. Vilardi ended the regular season with 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games, all career highs. Alex Iafallo will continue to play on the top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele in Vilardi's absence.
Ehlers (foot) won't travel with the Jets as their first-round series continues in St. Louis, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports Wednesday.
Winnipeg will play in St. Louis for Game 3 on Thursday and Game 4 on Sunday. The Jets lead the series 2-0, so it's possible that Winnipeg will settle things with the Blues by the end of that trip. If not, Game 5 will be played in Winnipeg next Wednesday. Ehlers, who had 24 goals and 63 points across 69 regular-season appearances in 2024-25, doesn't appear to be close to returning.
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Jets' Gabriel Vilardi: Making trip Thursday
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Vilardi (upper body) will travel with the Jets for Thursday's Game 3 matchup in St. Louis, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Vilardi has been out of action since March 23 versus the Sabres, a stretch of 13 games on the shelf due to his upper-body issue. In his 71 regular-season appearances this year, the 25-year-old natural center posted career highs in goals (27), assists (34) and power-play points (25). If given the all-clear for Game 3, Vilardi will likely be on both the first line as well as the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Jets' Gabriel Vilardi: Remains day-to-day
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Vilardi (upper body) is still day-to-day ahead of Thursday's Game 3 matchup versus the Blues, according to Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press on Tuesday.
Vilardi has missed the last 13 games, including the first two contests of Winnipeg's first-round series against St. Louis. However, he could be ready to return for Game 3 if he progresses in Wednesday's practice. Vilardi has been wearing a non-contact jersey in recent team sessions, and his ability to take some physicality will determine his availability. The 25-year-old forward amassed 27 goals, 61 points and 130 shots on net in 71 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. Once healthy, Vilardi will probably occupy a top-six role and see time on the first power-play combination.
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Jets' Kyle Connor: Nets game-winner in Game 2
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Connor scored a goal on two shots and went plus-2 in Monday's 2-1 win over the Blues in Game 2.
The Jets' top line again handled the offense, with Connor scoring the decisive goal 1:43 into the third period. He has four points, seven shots on net and a plus-4 rating through the first two playoff contests. The 28-year-old winger has been consistent throughout 2024-25 with just five multi-game droughts all season, and none more than four games. Only two of those scoreless stretches have come since the start of January.
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Jets' Mark Scheifele: Two points in win over St. Louis
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Scheifele scored a goal and added an assist in Monday's 2-1 win over the Blues in Game 2 of their first-round series.
The 32-year-old center got credit for the game's opening tally in the first period when he came in off the wing and tried to deke Jordan Binnington, only for the goalie to poke-check him and have the puck deflect into the net off Jimmy Snuggerud. Scheifele has begun the postseason with a bang, racking up two goals and five points as the Jets have surged out to a 2-0 lead, and he'll look to stay locked in when the series shifts to St. Louis on Thursday for Game 3.
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Jets' Connor Hellebuyck: Sharp in Game 2 win
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Hellebuyck made 21 saves in Monday's 2-1 win over the Blues in Game 2 of their first-round series.
The only puck to get past Hellebuyck came on a St. Louis power play late in the first period. The 31-year-old netminder is coming off the best regular season of his career with 47 wins, a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save percentage -- marks that ranked first, first and second in the NHL, respectively -- and Hellebuyck has carried that form right into the postseason. He'll look to put the Jets up 3-0 when the series shifts to St. Louis on Thursday for Game 3.
Hellebuyck is slated to start in Monday's Game 2 at home against the Blues, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports.
Hellebuyck was stellar during the regular season but faltered slightly in Game 1 of the first-round series Saturday, allowing three goals on 17 shots (.824 save percentage). However, the Jets still secured a 5-3 victory, and Hellebuyck will have a chance to right the ship Monday.
Kupari (concussion) has been medically cleared to return to the lineup, per Murat Ates of The Athletic on Sunday.
Kupari participated fully in Sunday's practice and will need to get into more on-ice sessions with contact before being an option to play. He will likely be a healthy scratch against the Blues on Monday in Game 2. Kupari had five goals, eight points, 53 shots on net, 31 blocked shots and 77 hits in 59 outings during the 2024-25 regular season.
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Jets' Gabriel Vilardi: Still not ready
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Vilardi (upper body) participated in Sunday's optional practice but won't be available for Game 2 against St. Louis on Monday, Murat Ates of The Athletic reports.
Vilardi missed the final 11 games of the regular season and Saturday's playoff opener, and he hasn't been cleared for contact yet. The 25-year-old forward had 27 goals, 61 points, 130 shots on net and 50 blocked shots across 71 appearances in the 2024-25 regular season.
Schenn notched an assist, five hits, three blocked shots and 12 PIM in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Blues in Game 1.
Schenn was limited to two assists over 15 regular-season contests after he was traded to the Jets. The 35-year-old defenseman isn't in the lineup to score -- he plays a physical game and will set the tone while seeing bottom-four minutes in the playoffs. Between Winnipeg and Nashville in the regular season, he put up seven points, 77 shots on net, 45 PIM, 104 blocked shots and 300 hits across 76 games.
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Jets' Morgan Barron: Manages helper in win
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Barron logged an assist and two hits in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Blues in Game 1.
Barron has chipped in eight points over his last 17 contests while playing in a fourth-line role. The 26-year-old should have no trouble staying in the lineup during the first round, as the Jets are missing three of their regular forwards. Barron could even stay in the lineup over Rasmus Kupari (concussion) once he's healthy, as they've both seen time as the fourth-line center this season. Barron put up 15 points, 122 hits, 92 shots on net and a plus-8 rating in 74 regular-season contests.
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Jets' Mason Appleton: Sets up empty-netter
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Appleton logged an assist and added two hits in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Blues in Game 1.
Appleton ended the regular season on a six-game skid, but he was able to get on the scoresheet in the playoff opener. He fed Adam Lowry for an empty-net goal to close out this win. Appleton played in a third-line role for much of 2024-25, racking up 22 points, 107 shots on net, 76 hits and a plus-7 rating in 71 regular-season contests.
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