Blues Host Jets in Crucial Game 3 of Playoff Series

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The St. Louis Blues are set to face the Winnipeg Jets at Enterprise Center on Thursday night for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series at 8:30 p.m. CT. The Blues aim to get back in the series after losing the first two games.

Coach Jim Montgomery hinted that the lineup could change, as he is considering whether to play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen again or revert to the traditional 12 forwards and six defensemen. “We’ll find out tonight at 8:50,” Montgomery said. He confirmed that center Robert Thomas will play after missing Wednesday’s practice.

One potential change may see Alexandre Texier return for the first time since March 27. Texier has practiced alongside Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc in the last two days. “He has incredible self-belief and confidence,” Montgomery said of Texier, praising his skills with the puck.

On the defensive side, Tyler Tucker might replace Ryan Suter in the lineup, a change Montgomery suggests could enhance offensive contributions from the blue line. Suter has played 534 consecutive regular-season games and is a veteran presence on the team.

The Jets lead the series 2-0 and are coming off a strong season in which they had a league-best 26 road wins. Jets center acknowledged the pressure but emphasized the team’s depth to handle challenges. “You just go out and play against whoever you’re up against,” he said.

Despite their struggles, the Blues boast an impressive home record of 24-14-3 during the regular season and are eager to capitalize on their home-ice advantage. Montgomery believes the home crowd will provide valuable energy. “Our crowd’s electric. This is a loud building,” he said. “We have a lot more juice when we start games and we finish games here.”

For the Jets, containing Blues stars like Thomas and to limit scoring opportunities is crucial. Montgomery noted the need for his team to be more aggressive against the Jets’ top players, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, who have been pivotal in the first two games.

As Game 3 approaches, both teams are focused on critical adjustments to secure a victory, with the Blues needing a win to remain competitive in the series.