Haydn Fleury steps up big for Winnipeg Jets in playoff push

Haydn Fleury does not think twice about being in or out of the lineup. The 28-year-old defenceman simply arrives and grinds. For the majority of the season, Hayden Fleury was not a Winnipeg Jets starter, but when the opportunity arose, he seized it. In Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues, Hayden Fleury played a career-high 33 minutes when Josh Morrissey got hurt early in the game.In the evening, he assisted the Jets in securing a double-overtime victory.Haydn Fleury stepped up to the challenge biggest ever after the Josh Morrissey injury. In that gigantic Game 7, he skated close to 13 minutes more than he had ever skated in a playoff contest. His consistent play and level-headed nature allowed the Jets to advance to the second round. He has played in the lineup since the injury and is expected to play tonight in Game 3 against the Dallas Stars.Haydn Fleury tallied his second playoff goal of the playoffs in Game 2 and added an assist on Nikolaj Ehlers' first-period goal. The Jets defeated the Stars, 4-0, and evened the series at 1-1. Well-respected for his skating ability, Haydn Fleury’s speed and agility are enabling the Jets to keep up with the speedy and skilled Stars.Coach Scott Arniel praised Haydn Fleury’s skating and said he's an asset in keeping Winnipeg forcing the pace. "He can skate out of trouble. Another guy that can be a part of that rush, a part of what we're talking about getting after Dallas here and getting on our toes. And that's what he brings to our game," Arniel said. "Haydn Fleury has appeared in 307 regular-season NHL games with five teams since being drafted 7th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2014. He played only 39 games for the Jets this season. But when presented with his chance at the playoffs, he didn't let it slip. Before this streak, Haydn Fleury hadn't appeared in a postseason game since 2020.During the second-round series against Dallas, Hayden Fleury split ice time with DeMelo and Colin Miller. His work ethic and smooth skating have made a significant difference. Hayden Fleury added that playing big minutes in Game 7 was a huge confidence builder. "When you're called upon in that situation, then with Josh going out, it felt like you owe it to guys and the guys who aren't playing to put your best foot forward because they do so much for us. They're such big parts of our team and they would've killed to be out there," Fleury explained. Hayden Fleury is enjoying every moment now. "Playoffs are the most fun time of year and playing in these games that matter not only to our team, but the city and the province (Manitoba) is really special"Also Read: Mikko Rantanen's Performance Leads Dallas Stars Over Winnipeg Jets In Game 1 Playoff Battle