FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: Would it be hyperbole to suggest this might just be a franchise-altering game?
Perhaps, but it sure feels seismic considering the ghosts of playoffs past and the potential fallout that might occur with another one-and-done post-season appearance — especially since they just won the Presidents’ Trophy.
Obviously, you need four wins to advance in a series, but being the first to hit three seems significant for a Jets team that feels fairly fragile right now.
Is there a player facing more scrutiny tonight than Connor Hellebuyck?
The five-time Vezina Trophy nominee, who is going to be a third-time winner of the best goaltender award, has not looked anything like himself over the past two games.
No question the Jets need to be better in front of him, especially when it comes to allowing him to see pucks.
But Hellebuyck also needs to rise to the occasion, something he’s struggled with not only during these playoffs, but the past two springs as well. Now would be the ideal time for a dominant performance.
Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck (37) and Vladislav Namestnikov (7) defend the net against St. Louis Blues’ Jake Neighbours (63) during the second period in Game 4 on Sunday. (Connor Hamilton / The Associated Press files)
There’s no question this Jets-Blues schedule has been unique.
They played two games in three days, followed now by two games over the past eight. Both of those were losses by Winnipeg, of course, and I wonder if all that extra time to stew about what went wrong might help — or hurt — the overall cause?
“I’m actually OK with it,” Arniel told me.
“There’s some things we got to work on, some things we got to look at. But now it’s every other night, it’s go time. It’s the next game that’s the most important one, and tonight we’re going to take it from there.”
Vilardi said yesterday he hopes to make a big impact but cautioned that he’s “not Superman.”
Still, his return comes just in the nick of time for a group that can use all the help it can get, particularly on a power play that is just 2-for-12 so far. Vilardi’s net-front presence can be a game-changer.
Winnipeg has scored just five times in the last three games and the team has yet to get a five-on-five goal from either the second or third line this series, which will both have slightly different looks because of Vilardi’s return.
Some secondary production is desperately needed.
“Absolutely. Obviously, you want to get on the board and you can’t just rely on the top group to score goals,” said forward Nino Niederreiter. “That’s something which we know we’ve got to make sure that we get more to the inside and find a way to contribute.”
KEN SAYS: The moment of truth has arrived for the Jets.
They’ve spent all season building a solid foundation that allowed them to produce the best record in the NHL to prepare them for when the lights are shining brightest.
After winning the first two games of the series, the Blues not only evened things up by answering with a pair of wins on home ice, they did so in decisive fashion, outscoring the Jets 12-3 and chasing Hellebuyck in consecutive starts.
After the third two-day break of the series, the Jets have said all the right things going into the contest, and now they’ll need to back up those words with action.
Hellebuyck isn’t the only player under the microscope here, though he needs to elevate his game.
I was travelling home from St. Louis when Hellebuyck spoke to reporters on Monday, but he showed accountability and made it clear he would be better.
That’s a great sign of leadership from the guy his teammates have referred to as the backbone of this team for numerous seasons.
Another thing to look for is a signature moment from Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey.
The minute-muncher was excellent in Game 2, chipping in a pair of assists in the 2-1 victory, but he has been a play driver all season long and he’s the kind of guy who can make things happen offensively while also limiting the damage defensively.
The Blues have been laying the body on Morrissey whenever possible, but look for a breakthrough game from the Jets’ alternate captain in this one.
The reunion of Niederreiter, Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton could be a big development here as well, as the trio served as the Jets’ identity line for the bulk of the campaign.
With the middle-six needing to get going offensively, this is a line that could help keep the opposition off the board but also supply a timely goal or several at a time the middle-six forwards have been limited to Lowry’s empty-netter in Game 1.
The Blues have done an excellent job of adding offence from the defence corps during the past two games, with Cam Fowler producing six of his eight points in the series in that span.
Morrissey’s 4 Nations Face-Off D partner Colton Parayko had two outstanding showings as well on the Blues’ top pairing with Fowler, doing a great job of keeping Scheifele and Connor off the board while adding a goal and two helpers himself.
Both of these teams know what is at stake and will be prepared after the third and final two-day break of this series.
Look no further than Game 5 in 2019 to see how pivotal this game can be in determining the winner.
From Jets centre Kevin Hayes thinking he had put the Jets up 3-0 before knocking a puck wide that was heading into the net as he was tackled by Parayko on a partial breakaway, to Blues Tyler Bozak finding Jaden Schwartz with 15 seconds to go in regulation for the backbreaking goal that broke the 2-2 tie, you can bet this game will feature plenty of drama as both teams look to get a leg up.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Iafallo-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Tanev-Barron-Anderson-Dolan
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Stanley-Schenn
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: G Driedger, D Miller, D Fleury, D Heinola, C Gustafsson, C Kupari, C Toninato
INJURED: LW Ehlers (lower body)
ST. LOUIS BLUES
FORWARDS:
- Buchnevich-Thomas-Snuggerud
- Neighbours-Schenn-Kyrou
- Texier-Sundqvist-Bolduc
- Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker
DEFENCE:
- Fowler-Parayko
- Broberg-Faulk
- Leddy-Suter
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Kessel, F Joseph
INJURED: D Krug (ankle), LW Holloway (lower body), Tucker (lower body)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets head coach Scott Arniel on how the Blues created some space in the offensive zone in Game 3:
“They did a good job of trying to spread us out. For us, when we do a good job with our defending, we don’t let teams get away and get to the good ice, or get to the high ice. We do a good job of containing and pushing them back to the corners. I thought we were spread out quite a bit. We were loose with our coverage. It had a lot to do with, again, we were slow to close and allowed them the ice to either send the puck over there or they skated it over there.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken has an early notebook coming along with a post-game analysis piece, while Mike will handle the game story. You can find the pieces online at winnipegfreepress.com.
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