After such a defining and accomplished regular season, the St. Louis Blues' defensive unit was quiet in the first game of their first-round series with the Winnipeg Jets. After scoring a combined 46 goals, which was good enough for the third most in the NHL, they did not get one past Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in game one.
Blues defenseman Justin Faulk and Cam Fowler had two assists and an assist, respectively. Fowler, alongside Colton Parayko, led the Blues' blueline in points with 36 each. But Parayko had an impressive 16 goals this season, which he hit before going out for well over a month at the end of the season.
Defensive unit helping out on offense
The Jets have such a high-powered offense, and that was on full display in the third period of game one. After the Blues went up 3-2 and decided to try to keep the Jets forwards at bay, it was over before you knew it.
Had the Blues continued putting the pressure on, and maybe getting the defensive unit more involved at the points when establishing the zone, it could have been a different result.
Who needs to step up in game two?
Obviously, the duo of Parayko and Fowler, at -2 and -3 in game one, desperately needs to improve. Aside from them, eyes should be on Philip Broberg. Partnered with Faulk, he should be able to break through in game two.
The Blues forwards that were expected to show up, did. Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn and Zack Bolduc were amongst the best players of the game for the Blues. On the defensive side, it was a different story offensively. That cannot happen in game two.