ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Blues fans wouldn’t know it, but the Winnipeg Jets are actually a great road team.
They were 26-15-0 on the road in the regular season, and those 26 wins were the most in the NHL in 2024-25. They scored 136 goals, which was the third most in the league. They gave up 110 goals, which was the second-fewest.
Advertisement
It was half the reason why they won the Presidents’ Trophy with 116 points this season.
But the Blues have downright dominated the Jets in the three games of the Western Conference playoff series played at Enterprise Center.
Jim Montgomery’s team is 3-0, outscoring Winnipeg 17-5 — 7-2 in Game 3, 5-1 in Game 4 and 5-2 in Game 6 Friday night. They’ve had 12 of their 20 players score at least one goal and 18 of those 20 pick up at least one point. None of the three games saw the Jets closer than three goals in the third period.
What’s more, the Blues have chased Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck from the crease in all three. He left after surrendering five goals on 23 shots Friday, and the combined total was 16 goals on 66 shots (.578 save percentage).
It was like deja vu twice over hearing the sellout crowd of 18,096 chant, “We want Connor! We want Connor!” after he headed to the locker room.
“Great fans!” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. “You can definitely feel the energy in the building, and it’s translating onto the ice.”
It’s not just Winnipeg, however. The Blues’ win Friday was their 15th in a row at home, and the last team to beat them on home ice was the Jets — 4-3 in a shootout on Feb. 22.
But now none of that matters. Because if the Blues’ season is to continue, they’ll have to bottle up what they’ve done in this series, and really the last three months, and use it to win a game in Winnipeg. Because the decisive Game 7 will be Sunday at 6 p.m. CT at Canada Life Centre, where the Blues are 0-3 in the series.
How can they do it?
“By not even focusing on that,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “We’re onto the next game. Just like, we lose Game 5 (in Winnipeg), we’re onto the next game.”
Well, that’s fine and all, but the problem is that the next game is in Winnipeg.
Advertisement
That’s where the Blues have been outscored 12-7, including 5-1 in the third period. Sure, the margins have been slimmer than in St. Louis in this series, but since the Blues won their first-round series against the Jets in the 2019 playoffs, en route to the Stanley Cup, they are just 8-15-2 in 25 games at Canada Life Centre.
“I think mentality,” Schenn said. “We haven’t played the way we’ve needed to on the road in a tough building yet. Obviously we’re going to make adjustments, but there’s certain things that are giving us success on home ice, and I’m sure (the coaches) will bundle that up in video, show us and engrain it in our brain.
“They’re good at home, we know that, and it’s going to be a good challenge. Nothing comes for free, nothing’s easy, but we feel confident in this group that we’ve got some gamers in here that enjoy challenges like that.”
There’s no bigger group of gamers on the Blues’ roster than the team’s fourth line of Nathan Walker, Radek Faksa and Alexey Toropchenko. Walker and Toropchenko each scored again in Game 6, and the line was on the ice for three of the team’s five goals.
“They’re a load to handle,” Montgomery said. “They’ve scored goals against every D pairing, so they’re hard to handle down low. They’re creating that identity that allows us to get to net-fronts, to win races and get screened goals. That line was dominant tonight.”
Walker’s goal Friday came from on top of the crease on a pass from defenseman Philip Broberg, and Toropchenko’s came with Walker standing in front of the net.
“We’re just keeping it simple,” Walker said. “We like to get pucks up top, get to the net, and create some chaos. Over the series, that can kind of wear them down and then other things kind of open up.”
In the Blues’ three road games in this series, Walker is tied for the team lead with two goals and another belongs to Oskar Sundqvist. Meanwhile, neither Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, nor Jake Neighbours has an even-strength goal.
Advertisement
So the Blues will need more net-front play from their top-six forwards in Winnipeg because that’s what’s working against Hellebuyck. They scored four of their five goals against him Friday by continuing to put shots on net, with the four goals coming in a span of just eight shots and 5:23 on the clock.
“We all know he’s a world-class goaltender and we have to make life as difficult on him as we can,” Blues defenseman Cam Fowler said. “That’s been something that we’ve done a good job of at home, but now we have to go on the road and try and recreate that again.”
But in addition to beating Hellebuyck with the traffic, the Blues have also demonstrated at home that they can be successful against the Jets using their speed. That’s evidenced by the fact that the Blues’ defense contributed six more points, giving them 24 in the series (six goals, 18 assists), which leads all teams in the playoffs.
“We feel like we have guys on the backend that can contribute offensively, especially with the way we can skate and move the puck through the neutral zone,” Fowler said. “It’s been a point of emphasis for our group and we have guys that can execute it.”
The Blues haven’t looked nearly has quick together on the road, which is a credit to Winnipeg’s pressure. But they feel it can be done, and, well, it has to happen if they want a chance of walking away with a win.
“It’s going to be a tough building to play in, we know that, but we feel like we haven’t had our best there yet and we’re looking forward to it,” Schenn said.
“We’ve done it here, they’ve done it there,” Fowler added. “Now we have to go in and try to get to that game early. I think we can take a lot of the things that we’ve done here in our own building and transfer them to Winnipeg. We know the situation we’re walking into, the team we’re playing against, the season they had, and they play really well on home ice. We have to stick to the things that we’ve done well in this series.”
Advertisement
Finally, the Blues will need goaltender Jordan Binnington to be the gamer he’s been in these critical situations in his career, which was no better seen than in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins. His numbers in this series may be a reflection of the team, but he’s also been much better at home. He’s 3-0 with a .932 save percentage in the three games at Enterprise Center, compared to 0-3 with an .861 save percentage at Canada Life Centre.
“He’s been unbelievable for us here in the series and throughout the year,” Broberg said. “He makes life easy for us, for sure.”
It’s Game 7, and it’s Sunday.
“It’s what we’ve all dreamed of in that organization, in that locker room, together,” Montgomery said. “These are the moments. You don’t think about winning Game 1 when you’re playing in your basement, or you’re playing street hockey or knee hockey with your best friend. It’s Game 7. It’s an opportunity that we’ve earned and now we have to go seize it.”
(Photo of Alexey Toropchenko: Connor Hamilton / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman rebounds with brilliance after brutal 53-pitch inning in last start
TORONTO — Kevin Gausman’s final pitch was a 97.8 mph fastball at the bottom corner of the zone. It was a called strike to freeze Nolan Jones, earning Gausman his ninth and final strikeout.That was the pitch that eluded Gausman in his last outing — the start where his day ended with a historic 53-pitch inning and an ejection. On Saturday, in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, the misses were gone and the innings were efficient. Rebounding from the longest inning in Blue Jays history, Gausman was nearly perfect. More importantly, he was healthy.Advertisement“We weren’t expecting a diminished version of Kevin today,” manager John Schneider said. “What we do know is how much we trust these guys and how much communication we have with them and how they’re feeling. So I thought it was a […]
Sovereignty wins 2025 Kentucky Derby as trainer Bill Mott sees his first horse cross first in iconic race
Getty Images Trainer Bill Mott has won the Kentucky Derby without his horse crossing the finish line first. In 2019, the Mott-trained Country House was elevated to first after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference. Up until Saturday evening, that remained the only Kentucky Derby win for the Hall of Fame trainer. This year, the 71-year-old Mott was able to see his horse finally cross the Derby finish line first when his late-running Sovereignty leaves the starting gate.As expected, Sovereignty stayed towards the back out of the gate and let the frontrunners set the early pace on the sloppy track on a rainy Saturday at Churchill Downs, but an off track didn't stop him from his customary late charge to the front. Junior Alvarado picked the right time to have Sovereignty make his move coming around the final turn and […]
2025 Kentucky Derby prize money, payouts: What winner, top five horses earned for the first Triple Crown race
Getty Images The 2025 Kentucky Derby was a thrilling run around the mile and a quarter track at Churchill Downs, as the rain and mud didn't stop the 19-horse field from producing a terrific race. The frontrunners went out early as expected and pushed a fast pace before the favorites made their closing push as they came around the final turn and into the home stretch. It was Journalism, the favorite all week closing at 7/2, and Sovereignty, who closed at 7-1, that made the biggest move, as they charged past the field and into the lead. Ultimately, it was Sovereignty that pulled in front and was able to cross the finish line first, with Journalism a length behind and a fast-closing Baeza coming in third. Sovereignty's win brings a big payday for owner group Godolphin, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior […]
Orioles call up Coby Mayo, their No. 2 prospect, to return to MLB
The Baltimore Orioles recalled infield prospect Coby Mayo from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides for another shot at the big leagues.Mayo, 23, made his major-league debut last season Aug. 2, 2024, and batted .098 in two stints (17 games) with Baltimore last season. He returns to the club after the Orioles placed Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain Saturday, retroactive to Friday.AdvertisementUrías became the club’s 14th player placed on the IL. The roster moves came ahead of Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards.The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked Mayo as the Orioles’ No. 2 prospect and No. 18 among the top 100 MLB prospects.Law said Mayo is “6-5 and does have long levers, so his swing can get big, some of which is the natural tradeoff for the kind of power he […]
Com gol nos acréscimos, Fluminense vira sobre o Sport e volta a vencer no Brasileiro
O gol salvador foi de Everaldo, aos 51, escorando de cabeça a bola cruzada por Arias. Serna empatou para os tricolores, aos 14 do segundo tempo. Pablo abriu o placar para o Sport, aos 24 do primeiro tempo. Com a vitória, o Fluminense chegou aos 13 pontos e se aproximou do líder Flamengo, que soma 14 e ainda joga na rodada. Agora, volta suas atenções para a Sul-americana, onde terá um desafio indigesto. Na quinta-feira, os tricolores enfrentam o San José, na altitude de La Paz, na Bolívia.
Chas McCormick’s premonition precipitates an ‘incredible’ day for Jake Meyers
CHICAGO — Before the best game of his life, Jake Meyers bemoaned baseball’s complexities with one of his buddies. Meyers is beating Chas McCormick in a battle for playing time, but it does not diminish their bromance. They share a draft class, deadpan style and the peculiar perk of throwing left-handed while hitting right-handed.AdvertisementThe two men spent Saturday morning wondering if extra-base hits have become harder to collect. Neither had a home run after the Houston Astros’ first 31 games. Meyers had four doubles. McCormick had one. Gaps are smaller, the two surmised, turning hustle doubles into a thing of the past. Their lighthearted discussion ended with a prediction from one friend to another.“You know what,” McCormick told Meyers, “I feel like you’re going to have a clip today.”McCormick’s slang segued into slug for a team desperately needing it. Only […]
Related
Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman rebounds with brilliance after brutal 53-pitch inning in last start
TORONTO — Kevin Gausman’s final pitch was a 97.8 mph fastball at the bottom corner of the zone. It was a called strike to freeze Nolan Jones, earning Gausman his ninth and final strikeout.That was the pitch that eluded Gausman in his last outing — the start where his day ended with a historic 53-pitch inning and an ejection. On Saturday, in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, the misses were gone and the innings were efficient. Rebounding from the longest inning in Blue Jays history, Gausman was nearly perfect. More importantly, he was healthy.Advertisement“We weren’t expecting a diminished version of Kevin today,” manager John Schneider said. “What we do know is how much we trust these guys and how much communication we have with them and how they’re feeling. So I thought it was a […]
Sovereignty wins 2025 Kentucky Derby as trainer Bill Mott sees his first horse cross first in iconic race
Getty Images Trainer Bill Mott has won the Kentucky Derby without his horse crossing the finish line first. In 2019, the Mott-trained Country House was elevated to first after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference. Up until Saturday evening, that remained the only Kentucky Derby win for the Hall of Fame trainer. This year, the 71-year-old Mott was able to see his horse finally cross the Derby finish line first when his late-running Sovereignty leaves the starting gate.As expected, Sovereignty stayed towards the back out of the gate and let the frontrunners set the early pace on the sloppy track on a rainy Saturday at Churchill Downs, but an off track didn't stop him from his customary late charge to the front. Junior Alvarado picked the right time to have Sovereignty make his move coming around the final turn and […]
2025 Kentucky Derby prize money, payouts: What winner, top five horses earned for the first Triple Crown race
Getty Images The 2025 Kentucky Derby was a thrilling run around the mile and a quarter track at Churchill Downs, as the rain and mud didn't stop the 19-horse field from producing a terrific race. The frontrunners went out early as expected and pushed a fast pace before the favorites made their closing push as they came around the final turn and into the home stretch. It was Journalism, the favorite all week closing at 7/2, and Sovereignty, who closed at 7-1, that made the biggest move, as they charged past the field and into the lead. Ultimately, it was Sovereignty that pulled in front and was able to cross the finish line first, with Journalism a length behind and a fast-closing Baeza coming in third. Sovereignty's win brings a big payday for owner group Godolphin, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior […]
Orioles call up Coby Mayo, their No. 2 prospect, to return to MLB
The Baltimore Orioles recalled infield prospect Coby Mayo from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides for another shot at the big leagues.Mayo, 23, made his major-league debut last season Aug. 2, 2024, and batted .098 in two stints (17 games) with Baltimore last season. He returns to the club after the Orioles placed Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain Saturday, retroactive to Friday.AdvertisementUrías became the club’s 14th player placed on the IL. The roster moves came ahead of Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards.The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked Mayo as the Orioles’ No. 2 prospect and No. 18 among the top 100 MLB prospects.Law said Mayo is “6-5 and does have long levers, so his swing can get big, some of which is the natural tradeoff for the kind of power he […]
Com gol nos acréscimos, Fluminense vira sobre o Sport e volta a vencer no Brasileiro
O gol salvador foi de Everaldo, aos 51, escorando de cabeça a bola cruzada por Arias. Serna empatou para os tricolores, aos 14 do segundo tempo. Pablo abriu o placar para o Sport, aos 24 do primeiro tempo. Com a vitória, o Fluminense chegou aos 13 pontos e se aproximou do líder Flamengo, que soma 14 e ainda joga na rodada. Agora, volta suas atenções para a Sul-americana, onde terá um desafio indigesto. Na quinta-feira, os tricolores enfrentam o San José, na altitude de La Paz, na Bolívia.
Chas McCormick’s premonition precipitates an ‘incredible’ day for Jake Meyers
CHICAGO — Before the best game of his life, Jake Meyers bemoaned baseball’s complexities with one of his buddies. Meyers is beating Chas McCormick in a battle for playing time, but it does not diminish their bromance. They share a draft class, deadpan style and the peculiar perk of throwing left-handed while hitting right-handed.AdvertisementThe two men spent Saturday morning wondering if extra-base hits have become harder to collect. Neither had a home run after the Houston Astros’ first 31 games. Meyers had four doubles. McCormick had one. Gaps are smaller, the two surmised, turning hustle doubles into a thing of the past. Their lighthearted discussion ended with a prediction from one friend to another.“You know what,” McCormick told Meyers, “I feel like you’re going to have a clip today.”McCormick’s slang segued into slug for a team desperately needing it. Only […]
Be the first to leave a comment