Kyle Connor’s game-winner early into the third period was enough to give the Winnipeg Jets a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues Monday night. The Jets would take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Blues with this win.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced in the Jets’ victory, while Mark Scheifele posted two points (1G, 1A) to improve his point total to five points (2G, 3A) in two games.
Game Story
The Jets got off to the jump early physically as they punished the Blues with massive hits along the boards and made it difficult to get into the Jets’ zone for long periods of time. Logan Stanley started the party of big hits by Jets players when he crushed Jordan Kyrou by the penalty box.
The Jets would have multiple good scoring chances, including one where Mason Appleton was absolutely robbed by Jordan Binnington, but the Jets wouldn’t quit and finally broke the deadlock.
Mark Scheifele drove the net from the left circle and got right into Binnington’s grill and was able to get a shot on goal, but an assist from Jimmy Snuggerud, who lost his balance and knocked the puck into the Blues’ net, would put the Jets up 1-0.
Near the end of the period, Josh Morrissey would crush a Jake Neighbours into the boards behind the Jets’ net, but Dylan DeMelo tripped up Pavel Buchnevich and gave the Blues strong power play a chance to even the score.
The Blues went to work, and Snuggerud would exact his revenge to tie the game up 1-1 with 0.8 seconds left. Snuggerud’s goal was a perfect example of being given far too much time and space to square up and rifle the shot high blocker side on Connor Hellebuyck.
The second period was a defensive clinic by both teams, not allowing either team to get many great chances on goal and ended the second frame 1-1.
Kyle Connor would score in the opening minutes of the third period for his second massive go-ahead goal of the series after a nice pass gave him a one-timer shot right in the hashmarks. The Jets would take the 2-1 lead and continue to lead the charge physically as St. Louis seemed unable to match the Jets for the majority of the game.
Cole Perfetti had a chance around seven minutes after Connor’s goal to add the insurance marker, but his spin move that beat Binnington missed the net, and the Canada Life Centre let out a loud collective “oh!” after Perfetti’s attempt.
The Jets would be called for another rather suspect penalty call as Luke Schenn was called for roughing, but the Jets would get their third straight penalty kill of the game. All three consecutive penalties killed by the Jets came at crucial moments that could’ve been massive momentum swings for the Blues.
The Blues pulled Binnington with 2:17 left to play, but it ultimately was no help as the Winnipeg Jets would take a 2-0 series lead with a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues..
What’s Next?
The Central Division matchup heads to Enterprise Center as the St. Louis Blues host game three and four. Game three is set for Thursday, April 24th, with puck drop scheduled for 8:30 pm CST.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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