Jets’ Dillon iffy for Game 4 with stitched-up hand
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Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter
DENVER — Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon is day-to-day and his Game 4 status is unclear after he lacerated his hand at the end of Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Jets coach Rick Bowness said after practice Saturday that Dillon’s hand required multiple stitches after it appeared to have been cut by a skate blade.
“It didn’t look good,” Bowness said. “So, it was a big sigh of relief that there wasn’t any damage done. Give our doctors credit. They got right at it and did a great job stitching him up.”
Dillon’s injury came at the end of a third period that saw the Jets surrender a 2-1 lead and allow five unanswered goals in a 6-2 loss, which gave the Avs a 2-1 series lead.
Several players were involved in the scrum before Dillon skated off the ice toward the Jets’ bench clutching his bloodied, lacerated hand.
While there were replays of the incident, there are still questions about what specific events led to Dillon’s hand being cut.
Dillon’s defense partner, Neal Pionk, said he didn’t know something happened to his teammate until he skated back to the bench. Pionk said he has also watched replays of the scrum and still didn’t know the specifics of what led to Dillon’s lacerated hand.
“You get mayhem in there and all those bodies in there, it’s tough to figure it out,” Bowness said. “But, it’s obviously a skate blade got in there somewhere.”
His potential return or his possible absence comes at a time when the Jets are trying to solve their defensive issues while evening the series or they risk returning to Winnipeg facing potential elimination.
The Jets opened with a 7-6 win only to allow five goals in the three-goal loss in Game 2 that saw the Avalanche tie the series.
After allowing just four goals in three regular-season games against the Avs, the Jets have allowed 17 goals in three playoff games.
“He’s one of our toughest competitors and a tremendous teammate,” Bowness said of Dillon. “He gives you 100 percent every shift out there. He’s tough as nails, he battles everybody, he blocks shots. He does everything you want your veteran D to do. He’s a great leader on the ice and in the room too. He brings a lot to our team.”
TORONTO — Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez was back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, two days after the third baseman left in the third inning because of a mild right ankle sprain.
The six-time All-Star was injured when he stumbled and fell while crossing first base on an infield single. Ramirez went down after being struck in the back by a throw from Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt.
Ramirez was batting third Sunday against right-hander Bowden Francis.
Ramírez sat out Saturday when Cleveland beat Toronto 5-3. He went 2 for 2 before departing Friday, boosting his average to .274. He has five home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games.
In last Thursday’s 4-3 victory over Minnesota, Ramirez became the first primary third baseman to reach 250 homers and 250 stolen bases.
The Miami Marlins activated catcher Nick Fortes from the 10-day injured list Sunday morning. To make room for him on the active roster, starting second baseman Otto Lopez was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Fortes, the Marlins’ Opening Day catcher, posted six hits in 20 at-bats with two doubles, one triple and one RBI in seven appearances before going on the IL on April 10 with an injured left oblique muscle. The 28-year-old missed 20 games as the Marlins went 7-13 without him. To prepare for Sunday’s return, he rehabbed for two games at Triple-A Jacksonville and went 0-for-6.
Fortes figures to split time with 23-year-old rookie catcher Agustin Ramirez, who has delivered a .256/.293/.615 slash line with three homers and five RBIs in 10 games during his first stint in the bigs.
The 26-year-old Lopez hits the injured list, retroactive to Saturday, with a sprained right ankle. Lopez started the season hot with a .400 average to go with two homers, six RBIs and one stolen base during five games in March. Since then, he has batted .191 (17-for-89) with no homers, five RBIs and two steals.
Rookie Javier Sanoja, 22, has filled Lopez’s spot at second base the last two games and provided two doubles, two runs and one RBI in seven at-bats.
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