Blues Bear Major Responsibility for Elimination in Round 1 vs Jets
The St. Louis Blues' heartbreaking loss to the Winnipeg Jets in Game 7 of the playoffs will linger as a bitter memory for fans and players alike. The Blues made their opponents uneasy throughout the series, putting pressure on Connor Hellebuyck, and had the Presidents' Trophy winners on the ropes.
With a 2-0 lead in Game 7 and a two-goal buffer heading into the third period, it seemed like the Blues were destined for an upset win. However, the Jets refused to give up. Two goals in the final 1:56 of the third period sent the game into overtime, shattering the Blues' dreams of advancing to the next round.
It was a missed opportunity, and the Jets could now easily run the table, leaving the Blues to deal with the pain of the heartbreak.
Entering Game 7, the Blues must have felt confident about their chances, especially with Mark Scheifele out of action and Hellebuyck performing poorly. But they couldn't capitalize and hold on for two more minutes.
First-year coach Jim Montgomery had a successful debut season with the Blues, guiding them to the playoffs after taking over midseason. However, his failure to address a significant defensive weakness ultimately proved costly in this series.
6-on-5 Defense: The Achilles Heel
The Blues had a season-long struggle with defending when holding a lead while the other team pulled the goalie. During the regular season, they allowed a reported league-worst 13 goals in this situation1. Fortunately for the Blues, they avoided disaster in the first six games of the series. However, they couldn't maintain the momentum in Game 7, as the Jets managed to score two goals in the final minutes.
Scott Arniel's early goalie pull proved to be a smart move, as the Blues' mental mistakes increased under pressure2. Too many icing penalties and defensive miscues contributed to the Jets' winning goal.
The Blues' defensive chaos during these critical situations was hard to comprehend, as the Jets struggled in their games without Hellebuyck's stellar performances[3].
Hellebuyck's Struggles vs. Blues' Missed Opportunities
Connor Hellebuyck was far from his best in the series against the Blues. He seemed uncomfortable throughout, but the question remains why he wasn't exploited adequately.
Hellebuyck's most significant weakness was his struggles with shots on goal. During his losses, he allowed 16 goals on 66 shots[3]. Yet, the Blues failed to generate enough offense, particularly in Game 7. Their lack of shots and pressure allowed Hellebuyck to gain composure, and it took until the second overtime for the Jets to score the game-winning goal.
If the Blues had managed just one more goal in the regulation time, Hellebuyck's struggles would have been forgotten, and the Blues might have advanced. Instead, they left the Jets with a clear path to the next round, while the Blues must deal with the sting of a heartbreaking loss.
Enrichment Data:
The Blues' defeat came down to two major factors: defensive instability in crucial moments, despite Jordan Binnington's individual brilliance, and a lack of offensive pressure that failed to exploit Connor Hellebuyck's vulnerabilities1[3]. The following table highlights strategic differences between the Blues' performance and the Jets' adjustments:
| Factor | Blues’ Performance | Jets’ Adjustment ||----------|------------------------|--------------------------------------|| 6-on-5 Defense | Faltered under sustained pressure2 | Agreed net-front presence1 || Shot Management| Limited offense, 7 first-period shots1, | 47 total shots, 20+ in third/OT1 || Goaltending | Binnington faced high-danger chances2 | Hellebuyck stabilized after early mistakes1 |
[3]: https://www.nhl.com/blues/stats/team/ defence/power-play/2024-2025/regular-season/3[4]:game events reported in respective newspaper articles and official game records
- Despite leading 2-0 in Game 7 and having a two-goal advantage going into the third period, the Blues' 6-on-5 defense was rarely capitalized, allowing the Jets to score two goals within the final 1:56, forcing overtime.
- Entering the playoffs, the Jets' goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, had struggled against the Blues, but his opponents rarely managed to thankfully exploit his vulnerabilities.
- First-year coach Jim Montgomery led the Blues to the playoffs during his debut season, but he rarely addressed their significant 6-on-5 defense weakness, which proved costly in the series against the Jets.
- In the heart-breaking Game 7 loss, the Blues betted on their defensive stability, but they failed to capitalize on their opponents' struggles, mainly in managing shots on goal.
- If the Blues had managed to capitalize on Hellebuyck's struggles and score one more goal in regulation time, they could have easily advanced to the next round in the NHL playoffs, rather than dealing with the sting of a bitter memory.
