Game 7: Winnipeg vs. St Louis in Winner-Takes-All Clash

Here we go. The series that started the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is also the one to conclude the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The St. Louis Blues and the Winnipeg Jets will collide in Game 7 tonight at a rocking Canada Life Centre here in Winnipeg. Notably, this mark the first time in the history of the Winnipeg Jets (versions 1.0 and 2.0) that they will host a Game 7.

Home Ice Edge

Until now, the home team in this series has won every single game. However, the Jets will be at a disadvantage in with top center Mark Scheifele unavailable to play. Presumably, Scheifele sidelined with a suspected concussion that he suffered in the first period of Game 5. If the Jets get eliminated tonight, it will mark the 4th time in the last 5 playoff runs that the Jets playoffs have ended with Scheifele unavailable to play. He was injured in 2020 and 2023. Meanwhile, he
was suspended in 2021.

The Jets record in all those playoff games Scheifele did not play? It’s not promising. The Jets are 1-8.

On the bright side, the team responded with two strong periods — and a win — when Scheifele was injured in the first period of Game 5. Winnipeg needs a similar effort on Sunday. If so, the Jets will advance to the second round for the first time since 2021.

Hellebuyck vs. Binnington

Possibly, Sunday’s game will become career-defining for Connor Hellebuyck. So far, for the third straight postseason, he has put up sub-par numbers compared to his regular season standards. Hellebuyck will most likely win the Vezina Trophy for the second straight season and for the third time overall in his career. Also, for the first time in his career, he was nominated for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player. However, all those accolades will mean nothing if he lays another egg tonight.

Hellebuyck was not pulled at any time during the regular season. Nevertheless, he was pulled in favor of Eric Comrie for all 3 games in St. Louis. Fortunately for the goalie, he will be playing at home tonight, where he has been the winning goaltender in all three games played in Winnipeg.

One other factor working against the Jets is that the opposing netminder is none other than Jordan Binnington. Binnington was the starting goalie for Team Canada recently at the 4 Nations Face-Odd tournament. Binnington and Team Canada defeated Hellebuyck and the United States in a thrilling overtime game for the championship.

Additionally, Binnington outdueled Hellebuyck in the 2019 Playoffs when the Blues eliminated the Jets in six games and went on to win the Stanley Cup. For his team’s sake and his own, Hellebuyck must turn the tide tonight. If not, it will be a long and unpleasant offseason.