Blues Dominate Jets, Cut Series Lead to 2-1 with Big Win

ST. LOUIS, MO — The St. Louis Blues took control of their playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets with a commanding 7-2 victory on Thursday night at Enterprise Center.

The win marked the Blues’ first in the best-of-seven series, cutting the Jets’ lead to 2-1 after they lost the first two games in Winnipeg. The Blues came out strong, scoring their first goal just 48 seconds into the match.

“I think we came out with purpose, were able to find success early, and that kind of snowballed the rest of the game,” Blues center Robert Thomas said.

Forward Pavel Buchnevich showcased his skills with a hat trick, including two quick goals within the first three minutes. His first goal came when a puck deflected after rookie Jimmy Snuggerud established net presence, allowing Buchnevich to score from the back door.

“We had to really step up our five-on-five game, and we’re able to find team success tonight,” Thomas added.

The Blues established dominance early, managing to score four out of six goals on Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck at even strength. The Jets had entered the game with the best defensive record in the NHL, having allowed the fewest goals during the regular season.

“We lost the game in the first period,” Jets head coach Scott Arniel said. “They scored two goals in the first three minutes. We got on our heels.”

Despite Hellebuyck’s impressive season with a .925 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average, his playoff performance has raised eyebrows. In previous postseasons, he struggled significantly, allowing an average of 5.23 goals in five games last year.

The Blues aimed to exploit those playoff demons by attacking the net frequently and effectively. As a result, their strategy paid off with three goals scored in the first two periods. “We just wanted to make life a little bit harder with traffic and more pucks directed at the net,” defenseman Cam Fowler said.

This victory not only boosts the team morale but also sets the stage for Game 4 on Sunday, where the Blues hope to even the series. “It’s a win, it got us back in the series, but we’ve got to move on to the next game,” stated coach Jim Montgomery.