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Jets Break Game 2 Streak, Take Commanding Series Lead
The early playoff history of the Winnipeg Jets has not been favorable when it comes to Game 2’s. Before their recent showdown against the St. Louis Blues, the Jets faced an uphill battle, having lost seven out of their last nine Game 2 matchups in best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series. Nevertheless, these trends are not always set in stone, as the Jets turned the tide, securing a narrow 2-1 victory to claim a 2-0 lead in the series.
The game commenced with an intense pace, as the Blues aimed to establish dominance early on. St. Louis applied constant pressure in the Winnipeg zone, resulting in multiple turnovers. However, Jets’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood firm, thwarting every attempt. The first penalty of the game was assessed to Radek Faksa at the 6:19 mark of the opening period, providing Winnipeg with an opportunity. Unfortunately for the Jets, they couldn’t capitalize during the power play. Shortly thereafter, another chance arose when Tyler Tucker received a penalty for cross-checking, yet again the Jets failed to convert.
As the first period progressed, the Jets came close to scoring when Vlad Namestnikov expertly toe-dragged around a Blues defender to find Mason Appleton, whose shot was miraculously stopped by St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington. The breakthrough finally arrived with 3:28 left in the period. Mark Scheifele made a significant impact, receiving a pass near the Blues’ blue line. Navigating along the boards, he managed to maneuver past Nick Leddy and drive toward the net. Despite his initial shot being saved, a collision between Jimmy Snuggerud and Binnington allowed the puck to roll over the goal line, giving the Jets their first lead.
However, the Blues quickly responded. In the closing seconds of the first period, Dylan DeMelo was penalized for tripping, giving St. Louis a power play. With just 1.7 seconds remaining, Snuggerud fired a shot high into the net, equalizing the score just before the intermission.
Winnipeg’s Strong Second Period Defense
As the second period unfolded, the Jets solidified their defensive game, successfully killing off two minor penalties and blocking a series of shots. Notably, the Blues had capitalized on three of their first four power play opportunities in the series; however, they were kept at bay in this period by Winnipeg’s effective penalty kill. Both teams generated scoring chances but remained scoreless through seven shots each.
Midway through the third, the Jets found themselves in a penalty situation once more. Luke Schenn’s roughing penalty gave the Blues a chance but, despite his efforts, Schenn could not capitalize upon emerging from the penalty box due to a missed opportunity on a breakaway.
In the ensuing moments, Binnington attempted to play the puck from behind the net but inadvertently sent it off Scheifele’s skate. Perfetti then took a shot at an open net but misfired. With 2:17 left in regulation, the Blues pulled Binnington for an extra attacker in a desperate attempt to equalize; however, they were unable to find the net as the Winnipeg crowd erupted, celebrating their team’s steadfast defense until the final buzzer.
This victory marked only the third time in franchise history that the Jets have won a Game 2 in a best-of-seven series. In the previous two instances, they went on to win the series, providing optimism for fans looking ahead. Hellebuyck was instrumental in the win, stopping 21 shots, including a mere five in the final period. Binnington recorded 20 saves in the loss.
Looking forward, Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night in St. Louis, where the Jets will aim for a commanding series advantage. The puck is expected to drop at 8:30 p.m., although logistical delays may push the actual start time closer to 8:52 p.m. Fans can catch the pregame coverage on 680 CJOB starting at 6 p.m.
Source
globalnews.ca