Jets’ Dillon iffy for Game 4 with stitched-up hand

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.”