Playoff Game 2: St. Louis Blues (0-1) at Winnipeg Jets (1-0)

Let the adjustments begin.

The Winnipeg Jets get full marks for their Game 1 performance, overcoming a nervous, tentative start to rally for an impressive 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Now, it’s incumbent on the hockey club to handle whatever comes their way for the rest of this series — something that hasn’t been easy in recent playoff years — while also staving off an identity crisis.

Advertisement

The Jets followed up Game 1 triumphs in 2023 and 2024 with four straight losses to the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, abandoning their tried-and-true formula for success and failing to adequately adjust to the tweaks and changes made on the fly by their opponents.

Are they better prepared this time around?

“Those are all the things that we’ve been talking about, harping about for the 82 games, that when we got to this point, that we need to play that way, and we’ll have success when doing it,” insisted Jets coach Scott Arniel. “You can’t get to this time of year and all of a sudden decide you’re gonna play a different way.”

One change the Jets are expecting is internal. Specifically, a few less butterflies in the stomach as they hit the ice in front of a sold-out, whipped-up crowd.

“It’s brighter, it’s louder, it’s not normal,” forward Mason Appleton said of the raucous environment during the Whiteout.

“So to say everyone’s a little nervous, a little on edge to start, it is what it is. You kind of learn to process it a bit, kind of take a deep breath and just go play hockey. And I thought as the game went on, obviously the crowd stayed there and stayed electric. But we definitely settled in. Yeah, there’s a learning curve kind of each game, each series and each year.”

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the breakaway shot from St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Kyrou (25) during Saturday’s game. (John Woods/The Canadian Press files)

Both clubs are expected to roll with the same lineup as they did in the opener, although the Blues have made a switch in their top six by flipping wingers Jimmy Snuggerud and Jake Neighbours.

“Sometimes as a coach, you have a feel that this would hopefully create a little more offence, that’s what we’re looking at, and give us better defensive positioning with our top two lines,” said Blues bench boss Jim Montgomery.

He expects his team to be “significantly better” with both their energy and their execution.

“As a coach, it’s why you love playoff hockey. I know that there’s going to be adjustments and wrinkles by both of us,” said Montgomery. “That’s what you love as a coach, being in, and you have to weigh that balance of how much is too much and how much? Because you just want your players to play fast and free mentally so you can’t throw the kitchen sink at him.”

The Jets would obviously love to hold serve at home while the Blues will be trying to earn a split before the series shifts back to Missouri for Games 3 and 4, which will occur Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.

Advertisement

FROM THE PRESS BOX

MIKE SAYS: It’s difficult to overstate just how important Saturday’s victory was for the Jets.

Dropping Game 1 would have likely felt a lot heavier for the Presidents’ Trophy winners given their recent struggles on home ice in the playoffs (1-5 in the past two seasons), dredging up all sorts of bad recent memories and vibes around here.

I suspect it would have really weighed on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was beaten on three of the first 10 shots he faced. That had plenty of folks firing up their hot takes about the slam-dunk Vezina Trophy winner, suggesting we were once again seeing how he isn’t ready for prime time.

In that sense, his breakaway stop on Jordan Kyrou with just under two minutes to play in the second period was enormous, keeping his team’s deficit at one and paving the way for the dramatic third-period comeback. Hellebuyck’s final numbers were rather ordinary for him, but the final outcome should allow him to settle in. I expect him to look more like his stellar regular-season self as this series goes on.

One of the great things about playoffs is the emergency of unlikely hockey heroes. Who can forget defenceman Joe Morrow, for example, scoring a huge Game 1 goal back in 2018 against the Minnesota Wild with just over six minutes left in regulation to break a tie and give the Jets their first playoff win in franchise history?

Jaret Anderson-Dolan would be the 2025 equivalent, at least so far, as the fourth-line winger — who is only in the lineup because of injuries to Gabe Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers — gave his club its first lead of the series on Saturday night with a nifty double deflection goal.

Teams that go on long runs every spring get plenty of offensive contributions from unexpected sources and this was a great start in that department for the Jets.

Speaking of Vilardi, I watched him closely during Sunday’s optional practice at Hockey For All Centre and he was absolutely flying around the ice. He participated in Monday’s morning skate as well, and it feels like he’s getting closer to a potential return from his upper-body issue that has now cost him 12 straight games. The next step will be shedding his yellow non-contact jersey, which could perhaps come at some point this week.

There are only two games scheduled for the next eight days after this one, which could certainly work in Winnipeg’s favour with regards to his progress. So, too, would be grabbing a 2-0 lead in the series, which would buy some additional time and ensure there’s no need to panic and rush him back, perhaps risking further issues down the road.

KEN SAYS: It was a dominant effort for the Jets’ top line of Mark Scheifele (one goal, two assists), Kyle Connor (one goal, two assists) and Alex Iafallo (one goal). Although one of those goals came on a power play (the Jets’ finished one-for-four), the trio was highly effective throughout the contest and delivered both the tying goal and game-winner during the third period.

It felt like it was only a matter of time for Connor before he was going to find the back of the net, as he generated five shots on goal and 11 shot attempts. Connor was robbed by the glove of Blues goalie Jordan Binnington early in the third period, but he ripped home a one-timer after a smooth cross-ice pass from Scheifele with 1:36 to go in regulation time after an icing call set up an offensive-zone face-off.

The Blues aren’t going to go away in this series and it’s essential for the Scheifele line to follow that effort up with another solid one. They’ll need to do what they can to win the matchup with Blues top centre Robert Thomas, who scored a power play goal of his own but was mostly contained at even strength.

Winnipeg Jets’ Luke Schenn (5) defends against St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas (18) as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the puck in the second period of Saturday’s game. (John Woods/The Canadian Press files)

Jets winger Nino Niederreiter didn’t find the scoresheet, but he had a strong outing on the line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti. Niederreiter was highly engaged, generated five shot attempts and spent plenty of time in the difficult areas to help create some space for his linemates. While the Blues had a couple of young players take undisciplined penalties in their first postseason action, Niederreiter played with the calmness of someone with 93 Stanley Cup playoff games on his resume.

The Blues played with plenty of intensity and set a physical tone, led by captain Brayden Schenn, who had nine hits — including a whopping eight in the first period. Neighbours had seven and Alexei Toropchenko had six and you can tell that part of the game plan is to take the body whenever possible, especially on the forecheck when pressuring the Jets’ defence corps.

Schenn was asked if he could maintain that type of volume for hits over the course of a long series.

“You’ve got to be physical in the playoffs, it’s a long series,” said Schenn. “You’ve got to wear teams down and that’s part of my game.”

It’s also part of Jets defenceman Luke Schenn’s game, as he finished the series opener with five hits to lead the Jets.

PROJECTED LINES

WINNIPEG JETS

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

Jets coach Scott Arniel on a learning curve that comes with the emotions and pressure of playoff hockey on home ice:

“I think that we went through it the other night. I think there were a lot of nerves and now, tonight, I’m hoping, ‘OK, we’ve been down this road. Let’s be ready for it.’ We do need a better start in the first. When our execution is good, especially early in games, it helps us get up and running. That’s what I’m hoping for tonight. When you ask me about a better start, for me our execution would be the biggest thing.”

WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON

Mike and Ken will double coverage from the downtown rink. Mike will handle the game column, while Ken will have a pre-game notebook out of the action. You can find both online at winnipegfreepress.com.

Winnipeg Jets

Sports

Hockey

Share:

Download our News Break app