Player of the Week | Mark Scheifele
Mark Scheifele hasn't missed a beat since returning to NHL action, using a pair of three-point outings to help the Winnipeg Jets land atop the Central Division to close out a perfect week.
Mark Scheifele
Feb. 12-18, 2018
3-4–7 over 3 GP
Tied second in league scoring
Two consecutive three-point games
It looks like Mark Scheifele is making up for a bit of lost time.
The Jets' alternate captain entered the week skating in just his third game back in action since Feb. 9, only to post back-to-back three-point outings before closing out Sunday with a game-winning goal.
The puck dropped on the first of three outings Tuesday night with the Washington Capitals in town for the seventh matchup in a ten-game homestand for the Jets. Scheifele opened the game's scoring with his first goal since his return from injury for his 16th marker of the season. Cut to the dying moments of the third period with the Capitals up 3-2, and with just 14.4 seconds left on the board, Scheifele tallied a short-handed goal to force both overtime and a massive eruption in the stands of Bell MTS Place.
Scheifele went on to assist on the OT game-winner scored by Tyler Myers to give the Jets a 4-3 win, and was named the game's first star for his three-point performance, which included four shots on goal over 23:40 of ice time.
"It feels awesome," Scheifele spoke of what he dubbed a complete team effort to reporters postgame. "It just shows that we battled so hard. We battled right to the end, that was top to bottom, first line to fourth line. It was an awesome feeling."
Scheifele posted a second straight three-point outing versus Colorado Avalanche visiting Friday night. With a trio of assists, Scheifele was named the game's second star in a decisive 6-1 win for the home team.
The centreman picked up his 18th marker of the season with the game-winning goal in a 7-2 victory for Winnipeg Sunday night. The goal helped Scheifele build to a four-game point streak, and his team to a first place finish in Central Divison standings for the week with 79 points on the season. The Nashville Predators quickly matched the Jets Monday night, earning two points in a win over the Ottawa Senators.
Despite missing 16 games with an upper body injury this season, Scheifele's 28 assists place him second highest among Jets scorers, while his 46 points are tied alongside Patrik Laine (behind team captain Blake Wheeler). Wheeler, of course, is having an all-star calibre season and leads the team with 51 assists and 67 points.
With Wheeler on pace to hit career highs in assists and points and Scheifele's quick return to form, the Jets are officially firing on all cylinders.
Scheifele, Wheeler....relationship goals#NHLJets #gojetsgo pic.twitter.com/SqmD9GnhCG
— Marc Silva (@msilvawpg) February 19, 2018
The Kitchener, Ontario, native is averaging just over a point per game throughout his 2017-18 campaign so far, which includes 43 games.
The Jets close out their home-ice marathon Tuesday night playing host to the Los Angeles Kings.
More Mark Scheifele
Complete listing of the 2017-18 NHLPA.com Players of the Week here