Dynamic duo lifts Jets to series opening win over Blues

Mark Scheifele knows that he probably could have found Kyle Connor in open space with his eyes closed.

But that would have sounded like bragging, so the Winnipeg Jets’ centre took his post-game answer in a different direction, preferring to heap praise on the guy who has been riding shotgun beside him for the better part of nine NHL seasons.

With the game tied late in the third period, the Winnipeg Jets dynamic duo provided another highlight-reel moment, with Scheifele winning an offensive-zone draw, gaining control of the puck and then waiting for the perfect opportunity to feed Connor for a deadly one-timer in what finished off as a 5-3 victory for the Winnipeg Jets over the St. Louis Blues before a raucous crowd on Saturday at Canada Life Centre.

With the win, the Jets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series between Central Division rivals.

It’s the third consecutive spring the Jets have won a series opener.

“He’s a real pleasure to play with. I’ve said it many times, I’m lucky to have spent as much time with him as I have,” said Scheifele, who became the Jets/Thrashers franchise leader in playoff points (41) by providing a goal and two assists. “Oh, it’s amazing. All I want to do is put the puck in (Connor’s) hands and he does some fantastic things.

“He’s absolutely fantastic, he shoots the puck fantastic, he does so many little things fantastic. Like I said a million times, he’s amazing to play with.”

Game 2 goes Monday night at 6:30 p.m. before the series shifts to Missouri.

That Scheifele and Connor were able to combine for a meaningful goal is often the rule and not the exception.

Both players established career-highs for points this season (97 for Connor and 87 for Scheifele) to go along with their improved two-way play.

Connor had a glorious chance to tie the game on a power-play early in the third period, but he was robbed by the glove of Binnington.

But Connor was dangerous throughout the contest and ultimately provided an exclamation point to Game 1.

“You’ve just got to stick with it, stay positive, knowing you’re doing the right things, getting the chances,” said Connor, who scored his fourth playoff game-winner. “It was obviously a great play by (Scheifele). Just try to get it off quick.”

The chemistry they’ve built over years of playing together was on full display throughout the game, culminating in the dagger that pushed the Jets over the top.

“The way they see the game and they read off each other,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “(Connor) has got such a deceptive release. He gets his shot off in traffic, he’s able to get separation when it seems like there’s not a lot of space. And then (Scheifele) is so cerebral that he’s able to buy time. You look at that play where they’re able to just find a seam. It was similar to where KC hit the one on the power play that (Blues goalie Jordan) Binnington got across on. This one he didn’t miss.

“They read off each other so well, they’re so dynamic together and then, their spacing is incredible. They don’t crowd each other in the (offensive) zone, but they always seem to have that tight support whenever they need an out. It was great to see them rewarded. I thought they had a heck of a Game 1.”

That heck of a game included doing a strong job defensively against the Blues top trio of Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours.

“They are just two elite players who see the game so well. There are guys with a ton of skill and then there are guys who are smart,” said Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. “They kind of have both. And when you put them together, they use both. That’s what makes them so elite together. They’re just deadly and fun to watch.”

Let’s take a closer look at this one:

DOMINANT FINISH: Although the Jets talked openly about having a nervous start that lacked execution, there were no such issues in the third period, where the Jets held a wide territorial advantage and gave up just two shots on goal.

The defensive play was stifling, as the Jets were able to overcome a 3-2 deficit to score three times (including one into an empty net) on nine shots on goal.

“I just like that we didn’t start cheating the game,” said Lowry, who delivered the empty-netter that sealed it with 51.9 seconds to go in regulation. “The structure was there once we settled into the game, and then we really limited their chances, didn’t give up a whole lot. That’s a good blueprint for success.”

“The structure was there once we settled into the game, and then we really limited their chances… That’s a good blueprint for success.”–Adam Lowry

The Lowry line — with Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev — helped set the table for the equalizer by having an excellent cycle shift that got the Blues on their collective heels.

The Scheifele line jumped over the boards and Scheifele found Alex Iafallo at 9:18, sending the Whiteout crowd into a frenzy.

Iafallo finished with three shots on goal and five hits, getting into it with Blues forward Jake Neighbours before time ran out.

“He can do it all. He’s such a big asset for our team and he comes into our line and doesn’t change a thing, plays the same exact way, wins a ton of battles,” said Connor. “He’s one of the best defenders on our team, backchecks really hard, great stick. Seems like he’s knocking the puck down every chance he can get. He’s got a knack around the net and you’ve seen that the past 20 games or however long he’s been with us. It translates to playoff hockey.”

UNSUNG HEROES: Speaking of playoff hockey, unsung heroes finding a way to deliver on the big stage is another prevalent theme and it didn’t take the Jets’ fourth line long to get involved in this one.

After David Gustafsson made a smart play to get the puck to the point, Luke Schenn unloaded a quick shot that was tipped by both Morgan Barron and Jaret Anderson-Dolan.

Barron was initially credited with the goal, but it was changed to Anderson-Dolan, who spent the bulk of the season with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

This was the fifth career Stanley Cup playoff game for Anderson-Dolan and that was his first post-season goal.

“It’s all four lines, it’s all of our D contributing. We roll well when everybody is a part of it,” said Arniel. “That’s kind of what we got.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: There were seven power plays in the contest, with the Jets going one-for-four with the man-advantage and the Blues finishing two-for-three.

Scheifele’s power play marker was an intended pass that rode up the stick of Blues defenceman Ryan Suter and got behind Binnington.

THE KEY PLAY: With the Jets trailing 3-2 and 1:56 to go in the second period, goalie Connor Hellebuyck closed up the five-hole on a breakaway attempt by Jordan Kyrou, setting the stage for the third-period rally.

THE THREE STARS

1. Mark Scheifele, Jets, Scored a goal and set up the equalizer and game-winner.

2. Kyle Connor, Jets, Buried the game-winner, added two assists and had five shots on goal on 11 shot-attempts.

3. Jordan Kyrou, Blues, Scored early in the second period and finished with four shots on goal.

EXTRA, EXTRA: It was a feisty first period, with the Blues finishing with 32 hits to 14 for the Jets. The game settled down a bit in the second and finished 53-33 for St. Louis.

“You know what, it feels like every year Game 1 in each series, (is) a bit of a bloodbath,” said Lowry. “Teams are both trying to assert their dominance. Everyone’s amped up. Our style of game is we want to be a fast forechecking team, heavy, hard to play against. But we don’t need to chase hits.”

Blues captain and former Brandon Wheat Kings star Brayden Schenn led the hit parade with nine, including a whopping eight in the first period as the two teams worked to set a physical tone. “Brayden Schenn is an incredible competitor and he’s our leader,” said Blues head coach Jim Montgomery. “He sets the tone for us really well every night.”

Jets defenceman Luke Schenn led the Jets with five hits.

The Jets were without injured forwards Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body), Rasmus Kupari (concussion) and Gabe Vilardi (upper body), while the healthy scratches were goalie Chris Driedger, defencemen Colin Miller, Haydn Fleury and Ville Heinola and forward Dominic Toninato.

The Blues scratches were forwards Dylan Holloway (upper body) and Alexandre Texier and defencemen Tyler Tucker and Matthew Kessel.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld