On the same night a hockey legend scored his first career playoff overtime goal, the Winnipeg Jets earned another victory in regulation. Under the radar, as is often the case for Winnipeg, the Jets beat the Blues 2-1 on Monday night to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves on 22 shots and held St. Louis scoreless after the first period. Kyle Connor scored what became the game-winner 1:43 into the third period. Connor’s goal was his second in two games of the playoffs so far.
Mark Scheifele initially gave the Jets an early lead when he attacked the net and got the puck by Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington 16:32 into the game.
Even though the recent playoff disappointments give some fans reason to worry about the Jets embarking on a rare deep run, the way they have played so far tells a different story. Winnipeg also entered the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with high expectations as the West’s No. 1 seed and the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning team — the first such honor in the history of the Jets.
Since advancing to the franchise’s first Conference Finals appearance in 2018, Winnipeg has only managed to win one single round since — a first-round series in 2021. And after winning 52 games during the regular season last year, the Jets immediately fell victim to the Colorado Avalanche, suffering a short five-game series loss.
But with Hellebuyck still showing signs of being able to stand on his head when necessary and their top scorers, Connor and Scheifele, providing offense and picking up where they left off in the regular season, it’s looking like the Jets’ playoff drought without advancing is about to come to an end.
