Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets are set to return to home ice with the aim of reversing their recent playoff misfortunes and overcoming the challenges that haunt them this spring. The Jets, who had the best regular-season record in the NHL, are preparing to face the eighth-seeded St. Louis Blues from the Western Conference in Game 7 of their tightly contested series on Sunday night. This game marks the conclusion of the first round, a stage from which Winnipeg has been eliminated in the past two years. Concern looms as the team faces a similar peril this season, with Hellebuyck once again in the spotlight after being pulled from all three of the team’s losses.
Coach Scott Arniel emphasized the significance of the impending showdown, stating, “A one-game showdown: that’s what it is, not just Connor,” following Game 6’s 5-2 loss in St. Louis. “It’s what we do as a group. … And you know what, I have a lot of confidence in our group, not just Helly. I have a lot of confidence in our group. You win one hockey game, you move onto the next round.”
Connor Hellebuyck, who is likely to be honored with the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender for the second consecutive season and third time overall, is also a finalist for the Hart Trophy as MVP. Presently, he holds a 4.42 goals-against average and an .815 save percentage in this series, a sharp contrast to his outstanding regular-season statistics of 2.00 goals-against and a .925 save percentage.
The disparity between home and road performances has been notable. In their home province of Manitoba, Hellebuyck and the Jets boast a perfect 3-0 record, with him allowing 2.33 goals per game and maintaining an .879 save percentage. However, across the border in St. Louis, the statistics drop dramatically to 7.24 goals allowed per game and a .758 save percentage.
Despite these road struggles, the Jets secured home ice for Game 7 thanks to their impressive regular season, during which Hellebuyck played a pivotal role in helping the team finish at the top of the standings. Forward Nikolaj Ehlers praised Hellebuyck, commenting, “I don’t need to talk about Bucky — Bucky has been phenomenal for us all year, and he’s continued to do that.” He added, “We’ve got to be better. We know when we play the right way, play well, making the right reads, we are a really good team, and we’ve shown that in this series.”
The Blues have demonstrated their capability to compete with Winnipeg by outscoring them 24-17, winning in decisive games but falling short in close encounters. Regardless of past results, the pressure is on to avoid another narrow defeat on the road. Coach Jim Montgomery, who has been pivotal in the team’s resurgence since arriving in late November, remarked, “It’s what we’ve all dreamed of in that organization, in that locker room together.” He emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the opportunity presented, saying, “It’s an opportunity that we’ve earned, and now we have to go seize it.”
St. Louis also has a proven performer in net, as Jordan Binnington brings significant experience in high-pressure games. His outstanding performance led Canada to triumph over Hellebuyck in February at the 4 Nations Face-Off final. Additionally, Binnington’s performance in his last Game 7, during the final in 2019, played a crucial role in securing St. Louis their first Stanley Cup title. Captain Brayden Schenn expressed confidence in their goaltender, stating, “He’s our guy, he’s a special human and he gets up for big moments.”
Apart from the goaltending challenge, the Blues are enjoying contributions from Cam Fowler, who is leading the team in scoring and has already established a new franchise record for points by a defenseman in a single series with 10. Since being acquired from Anaheim in a trade, Fowler has seamlessly integrated into the team. He recognizes the task ahead, acknowledging, “We know the situation we’re walking into, the team we’re playing against, the season they had, and they play really well on home ice.” Addressing the significant opportunity presented by Game 7, he continued, “It’s a great opportunity for both teams, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”