Preview: Here we go…Game Seven…the two best words in sports…and the chance to move on to the second round of the playoffs to face the Dallas Stars. First ever Game 7 in Winnipeg. The last 4 President trophy winners playing in a game 7 have lost…
Let’s look at some numbers coming into this one: Jordan Binnington is 2-0 in Game 7’s & won the Four Nations Final (beating Hellebuyck)…in 2019’s seconds round vs. Dallas, he stopped 29 of 30 in 2-1 2OT win. 2019 Stanley Cup Final at Boston, he stopped 32 of 33 in 4-1 win…in the Four Nations Final, he stopped 31 of 33 in the 3-2 OT win. Overall stopped 92 of 96, .958 SV% and a 1.18 GAA…I’d say that’s pretty good. Not to say this is going to be easy, but the right goaltender is on the Blues side…Let’s GO BLUES!!
Blues jump out early to a 2 goal lead in period 1…
What a start…1:10 into the game…Jordan Kyrou with a tap in of a Colton Parayko pass to the front of the net …Kyrou’s 3rd of the playoffs…Hellebuyck but early on the Parayko play. Pavel Buchnevich with the 2nd assist after a great play by Robert Thomas entering the zone. 1 to 0 Blues on their first shot.
5 minutes in and the shots are 3 to 1 Blues…most of the action in the Jets end…both teams taking the body.
2 to 0 Blues as Mathieu Joseph steal the puck at center ice and throws a dart short side and beats Hellebuyck…unassisted and Joseph’s first career playoff goal! Just over 7 minutes into the game…
Connor…Connor…Connor…
10 minutes in only 1 shot on goal for the Jets…6 for the Blues…
Period ends with the Blues up 2 to 0 and leading in shots 7 to 3. Great start for the Blues!!!
Blues hold a 2 goal lead through period 2…
Jets a bit more aggressive to start the 2nd period…at the halfway point Jets with 7 shots and the Blues 4 for the period…Binnington playing well…Blues still up by 2!
First penalty of the game is against the Blues and Oskar Sundqvist with 8:26 left for slashing…and it only takes them 7 seconds a shot pass from the point is redirected high to the near post over Binnington… don’t think he saw that one…2 to 1 with 8:19 left in the 2nd period.
With 34 seconds left…Radek Faksa fires it over the glove side and it’s 3 to 1…great pass from Nathan Walker cross ice to a streaking Faksa… 6th goal by the WTF line in the series!
Jets penalty off the ensuing faceoff and the Blues will have a 1:30+ powerplay to start the 3rd period.
Blues lead 3 to 1 after 2 periods!!
Jets get 2 late goals...in the 3rd period
Blues unable to score on the PP…shots are 18 to 13 in favor of the Blues minutes into the period.
10 MINUTES!! Jets continue to pressure the Blues and now have the lead in shots 20 to 19…Binnington holding serve and the Blues still have a 2-goal lead…3 to 1.
5 MINUTES!! Jets add shots…22 to 20…Binnington the difference…his play with the puck is elite?!
When will they pull Hellebuyck?? 3:14 left is the answer with a faceoff in the Blues end…
2 MINUTES!! Jets score with 1:55 left and they are within 1…shot is deflected off the shaft of Ryan Suter’s stick…tough break as Binnington doesn’t have a chance…Hellebuyck back in…and now back out with 1:26 left ..BIG save by Binnington with 1:06 left…puck popped out of Binnington ‘s grasp but the puck doesn’t cross the goal line…reviewed – NO GOAL…Buchnevich misses an empty net…1.6 seconds left…Jets somehow score the tying goal…a deflection gets past Binnington…….
Two goals in the final 2 minutes…and we are going to overtime…shots 28 to 20 in regulation for the Jets.
SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME!! Shades of the Four Nations … Hellebuyck vs Binnington
5 minutes into the OT…Jets with the advantage in shots 5 to 1…Blues had 3 scoring chances though…
Blues called for a delay of game as Brayden Schenn clears the puck over the glass …at 6:20…Binnington with a glove save with 25 seconds left in the penalty…the only shot on the PP.
10 minutes into OT…Jets 8 shots to the Blues 3…Parayko with the best scoring chance…
15 minutes into OT…shots 9 to 3 Jets…Binnington with a breakaway save…
No score in the first OT…shots 11 to 4 in favor of the Jets. 39 to 24 overall.
Second OVERTIME!!
5 minutes into the 2nd OT…shots 3 to 2 for the Jets…
10 minutes into the 2nd OT…shots 5 to 4 Jets…70 hits to 45 in favor of the Jets…
15 minutes into the 2nd OT…shots 7 to 5 Jets…
Another deflection on the 47th shot beats Binnington…shot from the point looks like it changes direction twice… at 16:10 of the 2nd OT...
Jets win it 4 to 3… The Blues cinderella run comes to an end...