No one will sleep better Sunday night than Neal Pionk.
The Winnipeg Jets defenceman logged a staggering 46:15 of ice time in a 4-3 double-OT, Game 7 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Pionk was also excellent in those minutes, tallying three assists including a helper on Adam Lowry’s series-winning goal in the second extra period.
Pionk became the first player to log over 40 minutes in a Game 7 since Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis did it with the Blues in 1999 against the Coyotes.
He wasn’t the only player to play big-time minutes on Sunday, as Jets blue liner Dylan Samberg (44:00) and Blues defencemen Colton Parayko (42:23) and Cam Fowler (40:35) also played over 40 minutes on Sunday.
However, none played more than Pionk, and that was due in large part to Josh Morrissey’s exit early in the first period.
The Jets’ No. 1 defenceman was forced to leave the game after a hit from Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist and did not return to the game.
Morrissey played a total of just 2:09 in Game 7, leaving plenty of extra ice time for players like Pionk and Samberg.
Thankfully for Pionk and the rest of the Jets, their Round 2 series against the Dallas Stars doesn’t begin until Wednesday in Winnipeg, so they can enjoy a couple of days off before hitting the ice for Game 1.
