After successfully defending home ice with two massive wins, the Winnipeg Jets hit the road to face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, April 24th.
Winnipeg played a tighter game overall, beating St. Louis 2-1 on Monday night to improve to a 2-0 series lead.
Related: NHL Playoff Game Recap: St. Louis at Winnipeg Game Two
Be Ready to Battle Physically
I’m beating this drum over and over, I know. I will continue to do that until the Winnipeg Jets’ 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs run ends. This is the game within the game, being more physically ready than your opponent, and the Winnipeg Jets cannot take their foot off the gas whatsoever.
The Jets came ready for a battle Monday night with some big hits throughout the game, most notably by defenseman Logan Stanley, who laid out Jordan Kyrou in the neutral zone to a roaring crowd. Stanley would continue to put his foot on the gas in this game by not allowing many players to get in close to Connor Hellebuyck or gain much ice with the puck.
Stanley wasn’t the only Jets player to play a punishing game against the Blues; defensive partner Luke Schenn was making his presence known alongside many other Jets players who elevated their game.
While there were some rather questionable penalties to come out of it all, the Winnipeg Jets took care of business by killing three of four penalties they took throughout game two.
Roll Over Penalty Kill Momentum
After Jimmy Snuggerud scored on the power play with 0.8 seconds left in the first period, the Winnipeg Jets killed three consecutive penalties in game two.
This was a massive improvement after the Blues went two for three on the power play in game one.
Winnipeg shut down one of the best power plays in the NHL since the 4-Nations break by allowing just three shots on three power plays. The Jets did fine work on the penalty kill, but the job is not done heading into game three.
The Jets need to take what worked from game two into game three. The Jets’ penalty kill was a testament to what they needed to do in order to win. While it could be seen as a momentum killer when you take a penalty, especially after pressuring the opposing team in their zone, Winnipeg showed fight and would not quit and that’s exactly what they need in game three.
Secondary Scoring is a Must
Game two had Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor stamped all over it, again, and that’s not a bad thing. However, when you look at their scoring paces and realize that one or both players with slow down, you see the glaring need for secondary scoring right now.
Yes, the argument can be made that the Jets will get a necessary boost when Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi return in their given timeframes, but you cannot rely on that. Longevity in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is reliant on depth, and Winnipeg has just that.
Currently, there’s no need for speed given how they are playing, but any player at any given time could find themselves snakebit. While I’d love to see Scheifele and Connor score at their current paces, it’s just not sustainable, especially when the winner of this series is staring down the barrel of whoever comes out of the Colorado-Dallas series.
You’re not looking too far down the depth charts either for secondary scoring when Cole Perfetti and Nino Niederreiter are going to be looking to put their stamp on the series. All in all, it might happen sooner than we think it will.
Score the First Goal, and Score It Quickly
I mentioned this ahead of game two, but the Winnipeg Jets absolutely have to score the first goal in game three, and it must be done quickly.
The first goal in game three is a chance to put a stranglehold on the series, but the Blues are a team that play well with their backs against the wall.
It is no secret that St. Louis is a hard building to play in, Luke Schenn even said it himself after game two to the media. A playoff atmosphere in Enterprise Center? It will be even louder and harder to play in for any team. That’s just one of the challenges facing the Winnipeg Jets as they travel to St. Louis for Thursday’s contest.
Hellebuyck Could Make His Mark With A Massive Outing
Game two was a better game for Connor Hellebuyck, he stopped 21 of 22 shots that he faced and fared decently well in all situations. Heading into St. Louis, Hellebuyck is certainly seeking a standout moment, and there’s no better place to do it than on the road while you’re up 2-0 in the series.
You see, Hellebuyck stopped 14 of 17 in game one, which is less than ideal to look at stat-wise, especially for the likely Vezina winner. There’s a reason playoff performances don’t make an impact on awards, and for good reason. Any team could get red hot in the playoffs because it’s the right time for them to click, and maybe game three is Hellebuyck’s time.
That is all to be seen on Thursday night when both teams suit up in what will likely be another closely contested, highly physical matchup.
What’s Next?
On Thursday night at Enterprise Center, the Winnipeg Jets are travelling to St. Louis to prepare for game three. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 pm CST.
ITR 37: Round Two – Inside The Rink
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