Mar 23, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) gets set to shoot on Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer (47) in the third period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

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Gabriel Vilardi Expected to Return for Jets in Game 5

Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is likely to rejoin the lineup for Game 5, boosting the team's chances in their playoff series.

Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is on track to make his long-awaited debut in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Game 5 of the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. The 25-year-old will rejoin the lineup after missing over a month due to an upper-body injury he sustained in late March.

According to head coach Scott Arniel, Vilardi will not have any restrictions on his minutes as he returns to the ice. His presence is expected to provide a significant boost for the Jets, especially in a critical playoff game where the series is now tied 2-2. Before his injury, Vilardi was having a career-best season, registering 27 goals, 34 assists, and 61 points in 71 regular-season games. He had been part of one of the league’s most effective top lines, skating alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. The trio had consistently dominated at 5-on-5 and on the power play, with Vilardi contributing significantly to the team’s success.

Good afternoon to Gabriel Vilardi and his WHITE jersey ❄️ pic.twitter.com/ZO9Da6oWJQ
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 26, 2025

His return is especially timely, as the Jets’ power play has struggled in the postseason, operating at just 16.7% against the Blues, a sharp drop from their regular-season power play efficiency of 28.9%. With Vilardi’s return, who led the team with 12 power-play goals this season, Winnipeg is hopeful that it can regain the momentum that powered it to the league’s top spot during the regular season.

Vilardi’s injury left a significant gap in the lineup, and while Alex Iafallo stepped in to take his place on the top line, the results have been mixed. Iafallo, who scored in the series opener, has struggled in the following games, and the line of Connor, Scheifele, and Iafallo has been less effective in generating scoring chances. The trio’s expected goals share of 36.7% in the postseason is a stark contrast to the over 50% expected goals share Vilardi had when paired with Connor and Scheifele during the regular season.

With the series tied and the pressure mounting, Vilardi’s return could be just the spark the Jets need to get back on track and push forward in their quest for the Stanley Cup. The Winnipeg faithful will be eagerly watching as their top-line forward steps back into the fray with a chance to tilt the series in their favor.

Image Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!