Winnipeg Holds 2-1 Series Edge but Must Respond After Game 3 Meltdown

ST. LOUIS — The Winnipeg Jets are looking to shake off a forgettable night and reclaim control when they clash with the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round today at Enterprise Center. Puck drops at 1 p.m. ET — and you can bet this one is going to have some serious fire!

After roaring into St. Louis with a 2-0 series lead, the Jets fell flat in Game 3, getting steamrolled 7-2 by a Blues team that found a second gear. Winnipeg needs a big-time response if they want to keep the series momentum on their side.

“It’s all about execution and playing fast,” Jets center Adam Lowry said. “We have to get back to our identity — winning battles, shutting down time and space, and turning that into pressure the other way.”

The Blues, meanwhile, are riding high and smelling blood. Led by a red-hot top line — Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and rookie sensation Jimmy Snuggerud — St. Louis has flipped the script with confident, aggressive play.

“We need to stay true to who we are,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Aggressive offense, aggressive defense. That’s our game.”

What’s on the Line?

• Winnipeg still leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, but history shows teams who go up 3-1 win the series 91% of the time.

• The Blues are 8-20 lifetime when trailing 2-1 in a series — but they aren’t playing like underdogs right now.

Keys for the Jets:

• Start Strong: Winnipeg was down 2-0 just 3:11 into Game 3. A quick jump today is critical.

• Defend the Neutral Zone: Lowry said it best — limit the Blues’ space, get back to fast transitions.

• Power Play Needs to Deliver: Winnipeg led the NHL on the man advantage during the regular season, but they’re just 2-for-10 in this series.

Keys for the Blues:

• Ride the Top Line: Buchnevich has six points in three games, including a Game 3 hat trick. Thomas and Snuggerud are buzzing too.

• Stay Aggressive: Montgomery wants St. Louis to keep pressing, forcing Winnipeg into mistakes.

• Home-Ice Advantage: The Blues are 13-0-0 at home dating back to the regular season — and the Enterprise Center is rocking.

Projected Lineups:

Jets:

• Connor – Scheifele – Iafallo

• Niederreiter – Namestnikov – Perfetti

• Barron – Lowry – Appleton

• Tanev – Gustafsson – Anderson-Dolan
  D-pairs: Morrissey-DeMelo, Samberg-Pionk, Stanley-Schenn
  Goalie: Hellebuyck

Blues:

• Buchnevich – Thomas – Snuggerud

• Neighbours – Schenn – Kyrou

• Joseph – Sundqvist – Bolduc

• Toropchenko – Faksa – Walker
  D-pairs: Fowler-Parayko, Broberg-Faulk, Leddy-Tucker
  Goalie: Binnington

What They’re Saying:

“It’s a great challenge, and something we can embrace,” — Jets forward Morgan Barron on playing in St. Louis.

“The belief in this group has grown so much — we know we can win no matter what,” — Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist.

Number to Watch:

• 2 — Only two power-play goals allowed by St. Louis across 10 Winnipeg opportunities. Can the Jets finally crack the code today?

Bottom Line:

If the Jets don’t start fast and find their legs early, the Blues are ready to pounce and even up this series. Winnipeg still holds the edge — but they need to play like it today.