Blues at Jets, Western Convention 1st Spherical Recreation 7 preview – NHL.com

Winnipeg hosts 1st winner takes all state of affairs; St. Louis appears for fifth straight such win
© Jonathan Kozub/NHLI through Getty Pictures
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Jets will attempt to win the second Recreation 7 of their historical past whereas the St. Louis Blues will try to win their fifth consecutive Recreation 7 after they meet within the finale of their Western Convention First Spherical collection at Canada Life Centre on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TBS, MAX, FDSNMW).
The winner will advance to the Western Second Spherical and face both the Dallas Stars or Colorado Avalanche.
Winnipeg is internet hosting the primary Recreation 7 in its historical past. The Jets’ solely different Recreation 7 was a 5-1 win in opposition to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Area within the 2018 Second Spherical.
“I imply, it’s an amazing alternative,” Jets ahead Morgan Barron stated. “These Recreation 7s are form of the moments you develop up watching on TV and dream about taking part in in them. Yeah, we’re all actually enthusiastic about it. It’s an amazing alternative for us.”
St. Louis may turn out to be the fifth workforce in NHL historical past to win at the least 5 straight Recreation 7s. 4 groups have gained six in a row: the Carolina Hurricanes (2006-2022), New York Rangers (2012-15), Boston Bruins (1983-94) and Detroit Pink Wings (1949-64).
Jim Montgomery is teaching a Recreation 7 for the third consecutive season and fourth time general.
“With my expertise, I simply assume each time you undergo it, the extra grateful you’re for the chance,” the Blues coach stated. “The primary time you are going via it, you are simply actually excited. I believe the expertise offers you the information of what to anticipate, when to count on it, tips on how to deal with the peaks and the valleys which can be going to naturally occur, not solely inside the recreation however between the times main as much as the sport.”
That is the 2 hundredth Recreation 7 in Stanley Cup Playoff historical past and second of this postseason after Avalanche-Stars on Saturday.
Groups scoring first in a Recreation 7 of a Stanley Cup Playoff collection have gained 75.8 % of the time (150-48). Dwelling groups have gained 58.6 % of the time (116-82).
Here’s a breakdown of Recreation 7:
Blues: St. Louis has gotten nice balanced scoring all through the collection. Defenseman Cam Fowler continues to guide the Blues with 10 factors (two targets, eight assists). Middle Robert Thomas is subsequent with eight factors (two targets, six assists) and Pavel Buchnevich is third with seven factors (three targets, 4 assists).
Jets: Mark Scheifele is a game-time determination. The middle missed Recreation 6 with an undisclosed harm sustained within the first interval of Recreation 5. Scheifele skated in a monitor swimsuit on Saturday, which coach Scott Arniel stated was “an amazing signal.” Scheifele has six factors (two targets, 4 assists) in 5 video games, tied for second on the Jets with heart Mason Appleton (six assists) and second to ahead Kyle Connor with 9 factors (4 targets, 5 assists).
Quantity to know: 19. Variety of Recreation 7s for the Blues of their historical past, probably the most of any non-Authentic Six workforce. They’ve the fifth-most general in NHL historical past, passing the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dallas Stars and New York Rangers who’ve every performed in 18 Recreation 7s.
What to search for: Will or not it’s a house sweep and development for the Jets? Or will the Blues put collectively their finest street recreation of the playoffs to upset the Presidents’ Trophy winners?
The fellows talk about the belief the whole Blues workforce has in Jordan Binnington
“We haven’t performed the best way we would have liked to on the street in a troublesome constructing but. Clearly, we’re going to make changes, however there’s sure issues which can be giving us success on house ice and I’m certain they’ll bundle that up in video, present us, engrain it in our mind. They’re good at house, they’re a great workforce. It’s going to be a great problem. Nothing comes free of charge, nothing’s simple however we really feel assured on this group that we’ve acquired some players in right here that get pleasure from challenges like that.” — Blues captain Brayden Schenn
“I simply really feel we’ve been actually stable all yr at house. We all know that, and we’re snug taking part in right here and the group actually helps as nicely. I believe we simply have to make use of that home-ice benefit to our benefit and simply make sure that we follow the easy particulars and check out to not waver.” — Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg
Pavel Buchnevich — Robert Thomas — Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours — Brayden Schenn — Jimmy Snuggerud
Mathieu Joseph — Oskar Sundqvist — Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko — Radek Faksa — Nathan Walker
Cam Fowler — Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg — Justin Faulk
Ryan Suter — Nick Leddy
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer
Scratched: Alexandre Texier, Nikita Alexandrov, Matthew Kessel
Injured: Dylan Holloway (decrease physique), Tyler Tucker (decrease physique)
Kyle Connor — Vladislav Namestnikov — Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers — Adam Lowry — Cole Perfetti
Nino Niederreiter — Morgan Barron — Mason Appleton
Brandon Tanev — Dominic Toninato — Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Josh Morrissey — Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg — Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley — Luke Schenn
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Scratched: David Gustafsson, Haydn Fleury, Colin Miller, Ville Heinola
Injured: Mark Scheifele (undisclosed), Rasmus Kupari (concussion)
Standing report
The Blues had a full apply on Saturday and an optionally available on Sunday. Kyrou and Snuggerud swapped spots on the primary and second traces at Saturday’s apply. Montgomery stated it was “simply getting a distinct look.”

source