2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues pre-game 1 report

It’s finally time. The Jets and Blues will face each other in the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Just like six years ago this St. Louis team was left for dead but since the 4 Nation Tournament they went on an absolute tear which forced them back into the post-season picture while riding a 12-game win streak. That streak, of course, came to an end in Winnipeg when the Jets defeated and dominated them en route to a 3-1 victory.

Worth noting given my reference to six years ago when these two clubs last met in the playoffs, our colleague Connor Hrabchak shared these numbers as part of his six keys to the series which are quite interesting:

In 2019, the St. Louis Blues from Jan 1-playoffs:
– 30-10-5
– 1st in points (65)
– 1st in 5v5 goal share (59.88%)
– 1st in HDCF% (57.95%)
– 4th in SV% (.934%)
– 2nd in the NHL in xG% (56.26%)

In 2025, the Winnipeg Jets from Jan 1-playoffs:
– 29-11-3
– 1st in points (61)
– 1st in 5v5 goal share (60.67%)
– 1st in HDCF% (57.76%)
– 1st in SV% (.934%)
– 5th in the NHL in xG% (55.27%)

If you’re looking for this year’s 2019 St. Louis Blues… you can find them in Winnipeg…

We shall see what weight that bears as the games get underway but interesting to consider ahead of puck drop.

Morning skate news:

No morning skate.

Jets lines & D pairs:

Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Tanev-Lowry-Appleton
Gustafsson-Barron-JAD

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Stanley-Schenn

Hellebuyck

Blues lines and D pairs:

Neighbours-Thomas-Buchnevich
Snuggerud-Schenn-Kyrou
Joseph-Sundqvist-Bolduc
Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker

Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk
Suter-Leddy

Binnington

Courtesy of Blues beat writer for NHL.com Lou Korac from yesterday’s practice.

Media:

Up Next:

Join us before the game on a Special Playoff Edition Illegal Curve Pre-Game Show which you can watch on our YouTube channel and live at CityPlace (333 St. Mary’s). Puck drop is at 5 pm CDT.  Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action which includes post-game interviews from Jets players as well as from head coach Scott Arniel. You can also join us afterwards for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).

Podcast:

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.

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