WINNIPEG – NHL PLAYOFFS – The Winnipeg Jets roared back to life at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday night, delivering a statement performance in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference First Round series.
Kyle Connor led the charge with a goal and two assists, while Vladislav Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter each chipped in a goal and a helper. It was a complete effort from top to bottom—something head coach Scott Arniel was quick to praise.
“We got to Jet hockey early, and we played it for 60 minutes,” Arniel said postgame. “That was the key. Physical, disciplined, fast. Just proud of the way the guys stuck together.”
Appleton Dishes, Connor Delivers
Mason Appleton was everywhere on the ice, recording three assists and setting the tone in what was arguably Winnipeg’s most complete game of the series. The Jets snapped a two-game skid with authority after dropping both games in St. Louis.
“We felt we let one slip there,” Appleton said. “We had to take the series back into our hands—and we did.”
Connor opened the scoring just 1:23 into the first, blasting a Scheifele feed top shelf to send the home crowd into an early frenzy.
Blues Battle Back but Jets Keep Pushing
The Blues didn’t roll over—Nathan Walker responded minutes later with his first career playoff goal, tipping in a point shot to tie it up 1-1.
Niederreiter reclaimed the lead for Winnipeg midway through the first, and though Jimmy Snuggerud tied things again in the second period, Winnipeg didn’t blink.
Defenseman Dylan DeMelo’s seeing-eye shot deflected off a Blues defender to make it 3-2, and Namestnikov followed with a backhand finish late in the second to stretch the lead.
“We lost Scheifele, and guys knew they had to step up,” Namestnikov said. “That’s playoff hockey—you just find a way.”
Goaltending, Defense Seal the Deal
While Connor Hellebuyck only faced 19 shots, he made key saves when needed, particularly early in the third when the Blues pushed. Adam Lowry iced it with an empty-netter, and while Walker added a late goal to make it 5-3, it was too little, too late.
The Jets held the Blues to under 20 shots for the second time this series, and the defense corps—led by Gabriel Vilardi in his first game back—blocked 22 shots overall.
“That was our identity out there tonight,” Namestnikov added. “Defense-first, then we go to work.”
Game 6 on Deck: Blues Back to the Wall
With the series shifting back to St. Louis for Game 6 on Friday night, the pressure is now squarely on the Blues. They’ve yet to lose at home in the series—and they’ll need another strong outing in front of their fans to force Game 7.
“We’ve been good at home,” said Blues captain Brayden Schenn. “It’s our turn to respond.”
Coach Jim Montgomery kept it blunt:
“They were better than us. We’re moving on to the next one.”
🏒 Next Up:
Game 6 – Friday, May 2
Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO
8:00 PM ET | Broadcast: CBC, SN, TNT, truTV, Max
🧊 SIDEBAR: Game 6 Preview – Jets vs. Blues
📍 Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis
📅 Date/Time: Friday, May 2 @ 8:00 PM ET
📺 Watch on: CBC, SN, TNT, truTV, Max
🏒 Series Snapshot:
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Jets lead series 3-2
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Home team has won every game so far
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Winnipeg outscoring St. Louis 16-12 through five games
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Blues must win to force Game 7 on Sunday
🔑 Key Players to Watch:
🇨🇦 Kyle Connor (WPG):
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2nd three-point game of playoffs in Game 5
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4 playoff points vs. Blues
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A threat early—opened scoring in 2 of 3 Jets wins
🇨🇭 Nino Niederreiter (WPG):
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1G, 1A in Game 5
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Physical presence and net-front disruptor
🇦🇺 Nathan Walker (STL):
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Scored first two career playoff goals in Game 5
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3 shots, 4 hits—key depth contributor for Blues
📉 Injury Watch:
Mark Scheifele (WPG):
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Left Game 5 after 1st period
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Listed as day-to-day; status for Game 6 uncertain
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Coach Arniel says he’ll be “reassessed Thursday”
🧠 Trending Stats:
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Jets are 6-1 in their last 7 playoff games when leading a series 3-2
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Blues have won 4 straight playoff home games dating back to 2022
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Winnipeg has held St. Louis to under 20 shots in 2 of last 3 games
Will the Jets close it out on the road, or will the Blues push this series the distance?
