Jets get better of the Blues

It turns out the Winnipeg Jets aren’t ready to fade quietly into the night.

Just under 24 hours after getting blanked 2-0 by the Chicago Blackhawks, the Jets turned the page with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre to open a three-game homestand.

Rather than lament the missed opportunity, the Jets took the next step in trying to pick off one of the teams still ahead of them in the Central Division standings.

By evening the season series with the Blues, the Jets pulled into a tie in points with St. Louis, technically moving out of the basement in the division with a higher points percentage due to having a game in hand.

With 33 games to go in the regular season, the Jets realize they’ve got their work cut out for them if they want to take a run at the second wild card berth in the Western Conference, as they still trail the San Jose Sharks by seven points.

But by posting a record of 5-1-1 during the past seven games, the Jets are doing what they can to keep hope alive.

“Those are games where the details of your game have to be on,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. “It might not be the prettiest night, but (it’s about) finding a way to get those two points, which is what we’ve been talking a lot about lately.”

The Jets, who improved to 20-23-6 for the season, continue a three-game homestand on Thursday against Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers.

“If I find an answer, I could sell it. Sometimes it’s just the way it goes,” said Jets centre Mark Scheifele, asked about his team improving to 3-1 in the back end of games on consecutive days. “Just to get the win is huge for our group. We just need to keep it rolling.”

Let’s take a closer look at what transpired in this game:

STICKS WERE HIGH

The bulk of the offence in this one came after two separate stick infractions.

The first came when Blues forward Nathan Walker caught Jets defenceman Isaak Phillips in the face after a faceoff, drawing blood and leading to a double minor.

The Jets cashed in on both ends of the power play, getting goals from Morrissey (on a slapshot) and Scheifele (on a beautiful shot after driving the net) to build a 2-0 cushion.

“He was laughing about it – that he would happily take that (cut) for a couple of goals on that power play,” said Morrissey. “He’s a good team guy. We executed well and it was big to get off to a good start.”

But late in the second period, Vladislav Namestnikov clipped Jonatan Berggren with his stick near the eye and also drew blood, resulting in a double minor for high-sticking.

Although Jordan Kyrou was able to cut into the deficit during the initial minor to get the Blues on the board, the Jets killed off the remaining two minutes to take a one-goal lead into the third period.

“That was a big turning point for me,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “Those are moments within games, especially this time of year, specialty teams can win you games and I think they did for us. Other nights it’s just all five-on-five, some nights it’s goaltending. Tonight, I would say specialty teams were the difference.”

Morrissey’s goal gave him 10 for the season, marking the fifth consecutive season he’s hit double digits.

For those keeping track, Morrissey’s career-high is 16, which was set during the 2022-23 campaign.

THE EXTRA EFFORT

Jets winger Nino Niederreiter isn’t scoring at a pace he’s accustomed to, but he did an excellent job to prevent a goal with just over six minutes to go in the first period.

Jets goalie Eric Comrie made a save on a shot from Blues defenceman Cam Fowler during an odd-man rush, but just before the puck crossed over the goal line, Niederreiter made a great play to keep a goal off the board.

“That was awesome,” said Morrissey. “I still haven’t really seen the angle, but it’s those extra efforts, blocked shots. It’s a team effort and that’s what it takes on those back-to-back games.”

During the second period, Niederreiter had a glorious chance to extend the lead but his off-side one-timer clanged off the iron after a nifty cross-ice pass by Scheifele.

“He’s staying with it,” said Arniel, who made Niederreiter a healthy scratch on Jan. 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Since that point, he’s recognizing that he has a way that he has to play every night, and we’re seeing that. His hustle, to come all the way back on that, obviously he could have let up, but that was a great play by him.

“And at the other side, tough because he got that great chance and he hit the post. Those chances are there and he’s getting more of those opportunities because he’s putting the work in and he’s playing to his identity.”

THE KEY PLAY

Scheifele’s power-play marker proves to be the game-winner.

THE THREE STARS

1. Josh Morrissey, Jets, Scores a power-play marker, chips in two assists.
2. Mark Scheifele, Jets, Scores a pair of goals, adds an assist.
3. Eric Comrie, Jets, Finishes with 22 saves to win a second straight start.

THE ASSESSMENT

Former Jets captain Blake Wheeler, on hand for the announcement for the alumni game as part of the 2026 Heritage Classic on Tuesday, took some time to weigh in on the current state of the team.

“I think it’s one of those things where, (it’s) still the same core from the team that won a Presidents’ Trophy last year and was contending for a Stanley Cup,” said Wheeler. “Obviously I played with a majority of those guys that make up the core of the team and I have a ton of belief in them and faith in them. This league’s tough. The games that go your way a year ago, maybe they’re one-goal games and you get on a good stretch and get momentum, all those good things that go into having a successful season.

“If it goes the other way it can snowball just as easily. It’s probably not what anybody has expected, but there’s a lot of reasons to still be optimistic about the group.”

THE OUTSIDE VIEW

A lot of words have been spoken and written about Monday’s tribute and reception for Jets centre Jonathan Toews in his return to the United Center in Chicago, but Blues head coach Jim Montgomery also provided his two cents after the morning skate.

“That’s what makes our game great. There’s legacy players like Jonathan Toews that did so much for the tradition of the Blackhawks,” said Montgomery. “Being a native Winnipeg boy, playing for his hometown team, going to the Original 6 team that he won three Cups (with), he won a Conn Smythe and did so many great things, hoisting the Cup three times as captain. That’s what makes the game great, that you have those memories.

“He’s one of the top 100 players ever.”

EXTRA, EXTRA

Winnipegger Joel Hofer made his 24th start of the season for the Blues and made 13 saves.

The Jets made one lineup change, inserting winger Gustav Nyquist onto the fourth line for Cole Koepke. Nyquist, who had been a healthy scratch in the last seven games, took 18 shifts for 13:02 of ice time and didn’t register a shot on goal or a shot attempt.

Defenceman Elias Salomonsson missed a second straight game due to illness, while centre Danny Zhilkin was the lone healthy scratch for the Jets.

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