Defenceman Tucker Poolman may play for Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night vs. Minnesota

Rookie defenceman Tucker Poolmanmay play for the Winnipeg Jetsin place of the injured Tyler MyersTuesday in Game 4 of the opening-round series against the Minnesota Wild.

Poolman, a 24-year-old from East Grand Forks, Minn., played defence in a pairing with Ben Chiarot during a morning skate at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Poolmanplayed 24 games for the Jets during the regular season, recording one goal and one assist.

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WhetherPoolmanactually plays will be a game-time decision by coach Paul Maurice,Poolmansaid after the skate.

"It's exciting. It's kind of like playing your first game," Poolman said of the prospect of playing in his first NHLplayoff game, adding his task, if he plays, will be to control his emotions.

"It's just like any other playoff game I've been in. Just goout and do your job."

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Maurice would not say whetherPoolmanwill play.

The Jets also recalleddefencemanSamiNikufrom the Manitoba Moose, likely as an insurance policy.

Nikualso skated with the team Tuesday morning. He scored one goal for the Jets in one regular-season game, late in the schedule against the MontrealCanadiens.

Maurice said the Jets must do a better job Tuesday evening of clearing Minnesota bodies out from in front ofgoalie ConnorHellebuyck, who was chased from the net on Sunday after Minnesota scored six times.

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"Everything we do in front of him is important for him to play as well as he can. I know for a fact we weren't where we needed to be in that game to give our goaltender a chance," Maurice said.

Team captain Blake Wheeler said the Jets must be quicker on the puck tonight. He also suggested it appears the referees have had enough with cheap shots after the whistle.

"The first two games were physical and maybe bordering on crossing the line," he said, referencing elbows to the head.

Parise out with fractured sternum

The Minnesota Wild announced forward Zach Parise won't play Tuesday due to a fractured sternum. Parisesustained the injury in Game 3 on Sunday, the Wild said in a statement.

It's a big blow for Minnesota, as Parise, who was born in Minneapolis, has three goals in the series to date. The Wild are listing his condition as week-to-week.

The Jets lead their best-of-seven opening round series 2-1. Tuesday night's game starts at 7 p.m. (Sportsnet). Game 5 will be in Winnipeg on Friday.

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