The Winnipeg Jets battled adversity against the St. Louis Blues, beating them 5-3 after a gutsy third-period effort to gain the 1-0 series edge.
Minimize Penalties Taken
The St. Louis Blues scored two power-play goals on the three chances they had throughout the game. While most of the calls were questionable for both teams, it bit Winnipeg just a little extra in game one. However, Winnipeg still scored a power-play goal of their own and even had a few good chances, but they still weren’t able to capitalize on their league-leading power play.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are usually called extremely tight or super loose, so teams need to find the sweet spot to avoid taking costly penalties in crucial moments of the game. Both St. Louis and Winnipeg found that out the hard way in game one, and it will only carry into more games as the Central Division rivals face off over the next two weeks.
Related: NHL Playoff Game Recap: St. Louis at Winnipeg Game One
Stick to the Structure
Structure was a massive reason for the Winnipeg Jets’ success in the 2024-25 season, but being able to constantly adapt and weather the storm in each game is a telltale sign of whether a team will sink or swim.
In the final 20 minutes, there was a sense of nervousness in the Canada Life Centre as the Jets trailed 3-2, even with a ton of high-danger chances at 10-3. One common theme throughout the entire 2024-25 season for the Winnipeg Jets was their ability to play until the final buzzer, and they did that again against St. Louis.
A big goal from Alex Iafallo to tie the game 3-3 swung momentum in their favour, but it was a massive goal as Mark Scheifele showcased his puck patience to feed Kyle Connor around the hashmarks of the right circle for the one-timer to put the Jets ahead 4-3.
The Jets’ first line led the league in scoring for the majority of the 2024-25 season, and they emphasized the importance of an effort from the stars of the lineup to the fourth-line grinders of the lineup.
Run Support for Hellebuyck
Three goals on 17 shots likely weren’t in the books for Connor Hellebuyck or the Jets, and St. Louis capitalized on mistakes that the Jets made. The defending Vezina Trophy winner and likely Vezina winner this year had to earn his saves in this game when the Jets’ defenders were out of position at times in the opening 40 minutes.
A bobbled puck by Luke Schenn gave the Blues the tying goal in the first period of game one, and it beat Hellebuyck high as Sundqvist positioned his body to the net before any Jets defender could get their stick on the puck to break up the shot.
When I say run support for Hellebuyck, I’m talking about the third period the Jets played against St. Louis in game one. While they won’t be limiting St. Louis to that amount of shots each game, limiting a team to just two shots on goal in a 25:30 span was the support they needed to show their goaltender in the opening run of the game.
In the grand scheme of things, there is no other Winnipeg Jets player who is under more pressure to perform in this playoff run than Connor Hellebuyck. Support from the players in front of him will go a long way if the Jets want to make it out of the first round this year.
Build on the Dominant Third Period from Game One
I already alluded to it, but two shots on goal in 25:30 is quite the defensive masterclass. If the Jets can build on this game, then St. Louis will have a world of trouble trying to get pucks on the Jets’ net.
It did help that the Jets got settled into their game as they looked nervous in the first period, and Scott Arniel even said that in his postgame media conference.
Getting a majority of the time spent in the Blues zone and locking down the neutral zone was a huge way to swing momentum. St. Louis was overwhelmed by the Jets’ relentless attack as they continued to roll all four lines throughout the entire game, and it broke the dam open when Iafallo tied the game. Add to the fact that the roof of the Canada Life Centre completely blew off the place when Connor scored the go-ahead goal with 1:36 left in the game.
If the Jets can build on everything good out of game one, game two shouldn’t be much different.
Feed Off the Whiteout
The hyper awareness of the Winnipeg Jets embracing the Winnipeg whiteout was on full display. Every hit, every shot, and every ‘Go Jets Go’ chant, you could see the emotion bleed onto the ice as the capacity Canada Life Centre crowd left all in the stands for the Jets.
The street party was sold out, thousands more outside of the building, and far more watching at home. The crowds were so loud that you could feel it. Every ooh and ahh, or even if there was a bad/missed call, passion oozed from the stands.
Five goals scored, five deafening pops from the crowd just added to the atmosphere that gave Winnipeg the early 1-0 series edge.
With game two on deck for Monday at 6:30 pm CST, it is expected that the crowd will be the same and get to their usual levels of noisiness as the Jets look to gain a 2-0 series edge on St. Louis.
Secondary Scoring Is Important, but So Are the Top Stars
Scoring came from all over the lineup in the Jets’ 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored his first career NHL playoff goal, Adam Lowry and Alex Iafallo added key goals, while Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor put bows of their own on game one.
Rounded scoring was a massive contributor to game one being a success, but the team needs to emphasize the importance of having secondary scorers get goals in big moments, just as the stars need to score in big moments.
Scheifele’s power-play goal to tie it at 1-1 in the first period was crucial, just as Anderson-Dolan’s goal was massive for the Jets. The Jets battled back in the third period, and having Mark Scheifele’s stamp all over Iafallo’s tying goal and Connor’s go-ahead goal shows the importance of rounded scoring. It also shows the importance of having players like Iafallo who can jump up to the first line and be comfortable in big moments.
While the Jets won’t receive any reinforcements for their lines as Rasmus Kupari is getting closer to a return, Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers are slowly getting to a point, but Arniel pointed out Vilardi is just skating with his teammates now, and Ehlers still has work to do.
What’s Next?
Game two between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets is on Monday, April 21st at the Canada Life Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 pm CST.
ITR 34: End Of The Road – Inside The Rink
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