Once again, the Blues made Connor Hellebuyck look like the abysmal goaltender he is in the playoffs. Hellebuyck saw three pucks go through and into the net and he logged an 0.842 save percentage in the process.
So, when you once again finish the game with a low save percentage and allow three goals, it means one thing: You didn’t face a lot of shots. And, spoiler alert, Hellebuyck didn’t. The Blues logged 19 shots on goal, which partially explains why they lost and found themselves in a 3-2 hole.
It’s frustrating because the Blues know exactly what they need to do if they plan on winning this series. Hit the Jets with just 24-plus shots on goal, and Hellebuyck will allow five of them. Want proof? Through five games, he’s only looked good once, and that was during Game 2. Even then, the Blues had a tough time getting many shots on goal.
Blues will spoil their last chance to force a Game 7 if they don’t get shots off
The Jets are a team that, no pun intended, can turn on the jets whenever they feel like it, and they can be impossible to stop sometimes. Game 5 was one of those nights in which everything, minus Hellebuyck’s marginal performance, clicked for them.
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on 25 shots, and the Jets picked up an empty-netter at the 16:47 mark. To keep pace with Winnipeg, the Blues need to score early and often, and they looked automatic in Games 3 and 4, outscoring the Jets 12-3 in that stretch.
They also put up 52 total shots on goal, or 28 and 24, respectively. Not a massive number, but one that let them find the net at least five times in both games. Had they played with that same kind of urgency, maybe they’d have the Jets on the ropes instead of facing elimination, themselves.
If there’s any good news to be had, at least the Blues are back in Arch City on Friday, and the Jets should have it in their heads by this point that they simply can’t score when playing road games in St. Louis. Part of me wants to guarantee there will be a Game 7, but if the Blues play the way they did last night, you can forget it.
How will the Blues force and hopefully win a Game 7?
I really never thought I’d have to explain this, but whatever. Get the sticks going from the blue line, get physical in front of the crease, and deflect the puck into the net. That’s all it’ll take to win Games 6 and 7 or to at least force the Jets to keep pace with you.
Sure, good defense is a must and keying on a high-scorer like Kyle Connor is another good way to limit the Jets. But by now, the Blues have seen how uncomfortable they can make the perpetual Vezina contender, even if they’ve chosen not to take full advantage in three out of the five games.
Now, they have no choice if they plan on playing more hockey as opposed to watching it from home. It’s also worth mentioning that the Blues still aren’t at full strength without Dylan Holloway on the ice, so if they can upend the Jets and get him back later, oh, they’ll be hard to stop.