The St. Louis Blues are facing a tough challenge after dropping both games on the road to the Winnipeg Jets in the opening round of the NHL Playoffs. Monday night’s Game saw the Blues fall 2-1, with Kyle Connor once again emerging as the difference-maker for Winnipeg, scoring his second straight game-winning goal to give the Jets a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Game was a tight contest, marked by physical play and strong goaltending. Mark Scheifele opened the scoring for Winnipeg in the first period, but with just.8 seconds left before intermission, Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud answered on the power play—his first career playoff goal. The deadlock was broken early in the third when Connor capitalized on a slick feed from Cole Perfetti, slipping the puck past Jordan Binnington.
Despite a determined effort, the Blues were limited to just five shots in the final period as Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck turned away of shots overall. The Blues’ special teams showed flashes of promise, but Winnipeg’s penalty kill shut the door when it mattered most.
With the series shifting to St. Louis for Game, the Blues now face a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive. Can they turn the tide at home, or will the Jets’ momentum prove too much to overcome? All eyes will be on the Enterprise Center this Thursday as the Blues look to respond.
