Secondary scoring was the game changer for the Winnipeg Jets as they defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-3 at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 series edge.
Four Jets players recorded multi-point games when the Jets needed their players to step up, as Mark Scheifele was injured in the first period and did not return to the game.
Game Story
The Jets wasted no time getting on the board as Kyle Connor sent a high wrist shot that beat Jordan Binnington 1:23 into the game. Mason Appleton was behind the net and went down before the play as he thought he might’ve been high-sticked. Appleton popped back up and kicked the puck over to Mark Scheifele, who passed it to Connor to put the Jets up 1-0.
St. Louis responded quickly as Nathan Walker got in front of the net and tipped in Colton Parayko’s shot from the point to tie the game up 1-1. Just 1:19 after Connor’s goal, the Blues got their mark on the Jets and looked to continue the same trend as the past two games by rattling off two quick goals on Winnipeg.
The Blues and Jets would get together for their first scrum of the game as Brayden Schenn stepped up into Scheifele, giving the Jets a power play opportunity that they were unable to capitalize on.
Winnipeg wouldn’t let the Blues get their scoring groove back on track as Nino Niederreiter scored a big tip-in goal to restore the Jets’ lead. Dylan Samberg patiently moved with the puck and got the shot off from the point as Niederreiter was battling for position in front of the net to tip in the puck and score the Jets’ 2-1 goal.
The first period would end 2-1, but the physicality would intensify as neither team would give an edge to the other. With four penalties handed out to each team, it was clear that this game was being closely called.
Mark Scheifele would not join the Jets to start the second period, and his absence was felt. St. Louis scored early in the second period as Jimmy Snuggerud joined the Blues’ rush and scored short side on Hellebuyck to tie the game back up 2-2.
About five minutes after Snuggerud’s tying goal, Dylan DeMelo fired a wrist shot from the point that hit Colton Parayko in the butt and deflected into the net to give Winnipeg a 3-2 lead.
The Jets would not take their foot off the gas after DeMelo’s goal either. The Jets had lots of great chances after, but it was a three-on-one rush by Winnipeg and a great zone entry by Appleton that gave them the insurance marker. Appleton got the puck over Connor, who passed it over to Vladislav Namestnikov, who got the puck over Binnington’s blocker to put the Jets up 4-2.
The Jets ended the second period up 4-2 with a 14-4 shot edge in the second period alone with 28 shot attempts. They were also getting secondary scoring, which has been a big issue for the Jets up until this point.
Starting the third period, the Sportsnet broadcast confirmed that centre Mark Scheifele would not return to the game, a huge blow to the team heading into the final 20 minutes.
Near the midway point of the third period, Namestnikov had the chance to put the dagger into the Blues’ hopes, but a wide shot after he deked Binnington out of his socks was the difference. The Jets crafted a 2-on-1 rush play that had the Blues beat, but the missed shot was all the difference in a potential three-goal lead.
The St. Louis Blues would pull Binnington with just over four minutes left in the third period, showing their sense of urgency to get back into the game.
Adam Lowry would get his stamp on the game with his second empty-netter of the series to give the Jets a 5-2 lead with just over three minutes left to play in the third period.
Radek Faksa would drive the net and get a good shot, creating a rebound for Nathan Walker to give the Blues a late goal to make it a 5-3 game.
Game Stats
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 16 of 19 shots faced, while Jordan Binnington stopped 22 of 26.
Nathan Walker was the lone multi-point getter for the Blues with two goals
Mason Appleton posted three points (3A), Kyle Connor posted three points (1G, 2A), Vladislav Namestnikov posted two points (1G, 1A), and Nino Niederreiter posted two points (1G, 1A).
What’s Next?
The Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues face each other back at Enterprise Center on Friday, May 2nd. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm CST for game six.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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