Jets F Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) back for Game 5

Coming off the best season of his career, Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper-body injury) will return from a month-long absence and play in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs against the visiting St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

Vilardi, 25, injured in a March 23 game against the Buffalo Sabres, practiced on the top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele on Tuesday and also on the first power-play unit. He practiced in a regular jersey for the fourth consecutive day.

Winnipeg opened the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series with a pair of home wins, but lost the next two games on the road, setting up a pivotal Game 5.

In his second season with the Jets following a trade from the Los Angeles Kings in June 2023, Vilardi set career highs in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61) in 71 games before the injury.

In 270 games over six seasons with the Kings and Jets, Vilardi has compiled 175 points (90 goals, 85 assists) since debuting in the 2019-20 season. In 12 playoff games, he has eight points (two goals, six assists).

Los Angeles selected Vilardi with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

--Field Level Media