Seventh encounter lined up for St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets in their series.
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The Blues of St. Louis and the Jets of Winnipeg are locked in a tense battle, with the latest clash ending in a 5-2 Blues victory on Friday, leaving the series tied at three wins each. The series climax will unfold on Sunday night in Manitoba.
Philip Broberg scored one goal and assisted another, while Alexey Toropchenko and Jordan Binnington contributed a goal each. Binnington also stopped 21 shots, demonstrating a solid defensive performance.
On the other side, Cole Perfetti and Nino Niederreiter scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck, however, struggled, allowing five goals on 23 shots before being replaced by Eric Comrie in the third period. Hellebuyck has been on a losing streak in his last seven road playoff games, with each game resulting in at least four goals against him.
Jets coach Scott Arniel expressed concerns, stating, "It's not about how Connor played. We collapsed in front of him."
The first goal of the game was scored by Broberg, just seven minutes into the match. Perfetti responded with a power-play goal halfway through the second period, but the Blues retaliated swiftly. Walker responded, followed by Schenn, Fowler, and then another goal by Fowler, making it 5-1 for St. Louis.
Fowler has been impressively consistent, recording at least one point in every game of the series. He now holds the record for the most points by a defenseman in a single playoff series in Blues history, with a total of 10 points.
Despite being favorites in the West, the Jets are yet to appear in the second round since 2021.
"We're two evenly matched teams," said Perfetti. "That's why it's going to a Game 7. It's a bare-knuckle fight."
After missing seven games due to a right foot injury, Nikolaj Ehlers returned to the lineup, providing a much-needed boost for the Jets.
As Game 7 draws near, the spotlight is on Hellebuyck, who has been underperforming in his road games. With a home advantage in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck has a chance to prove his worth and potentially turn the tide for the Jets.
Enrichment Data:
Hellebuyck's recent road playoff performance hasn't been impressive. In his last seven road games, he has a record of 0-6, with a 5.72 goals-against average (GAA) and a save percentage of .835. In this series, he has allowed an average of 7.24 goals on the road, and Sportsnet Stats have noted a concerning trend of him allowing four or more goals in seven consecutive road playoff games.
However, Hellebuyck's career playoff performance isn't entirely dismal. In 49 playoff games, he has a 20-29 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.95 GAA. Yet, his playoff numbers pale in comparison to his regular-season statistics, such as his .925 save percentage and 2.01 GAA in the 2024-25 season.
The home advantage in Winnipeg could potentially boost Hellebuyck's performance, as his GAA in this series at home is significantly lower at 2.33 compared to on the road. With a strong showing in Game 7, Hellebuyck could turn the tables for the Jets in this tight series.
- Connor Hellebuyck, despite his recent struggles, will have a chance to positively impact the series with the home advantage in Winnipeg for Game 7.
- The troubles for Hellebuyck have been evident in his road playoff games, where he has allowed an average of 7.24 goals, as compared to his career playoff performance in 49 games.
- Hellebuyck's performance during the 2024-25 regular season demonstrates a significant contrast, boasting a .925 save percentage and a 2.01 GAA.
- In this series, Hellebuyck's defensive showings have been far from solid, allowing goals at an alarming rate of four or more in his last seven road playoff games.
- With a strong performance in Game 7, Hellebuyck has the potential to change the series' outcome for the Jets and build on his career playoff record, which currently stands at a 20-29 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.95 GAA.
