The biggest question heading into Sunday’s St. Louis Blues–Winnipeg Jets Game 7 is which Connor Hellebuyck shows up.
The Jets goaltender once again is struggling in the playoffs after a spectacular regular season. He’s a finalist for the Hart Trophy and the Vezina Trophy, but was pulled in all three games in St. Louis in this series.
Sunday, he’ll be at home, where the Jets are 3-0 and have limited the Blues to seven goals.
The winner of Sunday’s game will face the Dallas Stars, who rallied behind Mikko Rantanen’s third-period hat trick to down the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 7 on Saturday night.
How are predictions and how to watch Game 7 between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues.
Game 7 between the Jets and Blues is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Jason Anderson: Blues 5, Jets 4. The Jets had the best defense in hockey this year, with Connor Hellebuyck in the hunt for the Vezina, which makes his struggles in this series all the more baffling. He’s been pulled from all three road games and has a .815 save percentage in this series. This pick is less about the Blues, and more about Winnipeg being unable to keep pucks out of the net.
Mike Brehm: Jets 4, Blues 3. I’m giving the Jets the edge because they’re at home and they were able to bounce back and win Game 5 after losing back-to-back games in St. Louis. They won that game despite losing Mark Scheifele to an injury. He’s a game-time decision Sunday and if he plays, that will boost Winnipeg.
Jace Evans: Blues 4, Jets 2. The Jets battled all year to get the top seed for this moment, but I just don’t trust Connor Hellebuyck right now. The likely Vezina Trophy winner has given up at least three goals in five of the series’ six games. Not to oversimplify the game … but Game 7’s outcome hinges entirely on which Hellebuyck shows up.
