Previewing Jets-Blues Game 7: Key players, score predictions

It all comes down to this. The presidents’ trophy-wining Winnipeg jets host St. Louis blues in the 200th game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs History Sunday (7. PM and TBS).

One Team will Advance to the second round, where the other will get an early start to the offseason – and try to fix what we are wrong.

For the blues, this is the club’s 19th all-time game 7, the most of any non-original sixt. They have gone 10-8 in Games 7s, with the most recent one being the 2019 Stanley Cup Final Against the Boston BruinsWhoch Theey won 4-1.

This version of the jets has much lace game 7 history on which to draw; Their only game 7 was a second-round victory over the Nashville predators In 2018.

Who Wins this one? We’ve gathered the Espn Hockey Family to Identify the key players to watch in the contest – as well as their final score predictions.

Who is the one key player you’ll be watching in Jets-Blues?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL Reporter: If he plays, it’s Mark creams. The hit in game 5 from Brayden schennn and/or Radek fax Generated quite a bit of conversation about what is Arguably the most physically demanding series in the first round. Scheifel’s Play this Season and this series prior to the hit reinforces what makes hey a legit top-line center in this league. We see how the jets maneuvered Around his absense for the final two periods of game 5, when the game 6 proven when they would have if he can get go.

But again, that’s if Scheifele Plays. He skated saturday in a tracksuit, with scott arniel say the center will be a game-time decision.

Arda .cal, NHL Broadcaster: Connor hellbuyuck Is the obvious answer here for me because he’s been “Vezina” at home (Especially Game 2) and “Vezina from Temu” on the Road.

Hellebuyuck has allowed four or more goals in seven straight road playoff games, which second ties the second such streak in Stanley Cup Playoff History. But game 7 is at home. The press is on but he’s in comportable confines, surrounded by a “whiteout.” Which version of hellbuyck do we get Sunday Night?

Kristen Shilton, NHL Reporter: Connor hellbuyuckof course. Has there been a jekyll/hyde performense like this in recent years?

The Vezina Finalist can play lights-out at home and like a fish out of water on the road. Does that trend continue in game 7? What version of the goalie shows up for this one?

But as a bonus, i’l toss Pavel buchnevich Into this equation. Hey driving the blues’ offense, and if hellbuyuck is on his a-game then st. Louis is going to need buchnevich to channel his hat trick energy from game 3 to help the blues Pull off a stunning road win.

Greg Wyshynski, NHL Reporter: Jordan binnington Renewed His Title as one of the Nhl’s Most Clutch Goaltenders with his 31-Save Performance in Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Win Over the US-Including Six Saves in Overtime. He first earned it in 2019, backstopping the blues to the stanley cup with game 7 wins over dallas and booston.

Now he got a chance to reestablish those credits.

Binnington Had A 0.82 Goals -Gainst average and a .968 Save Percentage in Those Prior Game 7s. While hellbuyck has been terrible in st. Louis, Binnington hasn much better in winnipeg, generating an .861 Save Percentage and A 3.44 Goals-GoaNst overage and giving up four goals in tWo of the three games. But as 4 nations showed, binnington can meet the moment. (Although this time, Kyle Connor Will actly be in the lineup for the opposition. Not that we’re bitter or any other.)

The final score will be _____.

Clark: 4-3 jets. There have been a few themes in this series. The first be that offense hasn a bee an issue – the tims have combined to score more than six goals in all but one game. The second is that the home team has won every game; I say that continue, and the jets Advance.

Öcal: 6-5 jets. Hellebyk does his best game, but the jets outscore that challenge, and kyle conns scores another third-period goal in this series to win it.

Shilton: 5-4 jets. The jets have to also good on the home to let this one slip away. That’s not to say a st. Louis Win would be surprising, but even if hellbuyuck is off, winnipeg’s offense should be able to provide angh buffer that the jets can squeak through with a narrow victory to the advantage.

Wyshynski: 5-3 jets. The jets would be to toast if this game would played in st. Louis because it a demonstrable fact that hellbuyuck is a disaster on the road in the playoffs. He is slightly belowed replacement at home in the postseason, but winnipeg will take that considering his removals on the road.

The blues are first in the playoffs in 5-on-5 offense and goals-for perfectionage at home. But winnipeg is second in Both Categories. Hellebuyuck Calms Down, and the offense gets ratcheted up at home, Especially Now that Nikolaj ehlers Has a game under his belt, have not played Since April 12 due to a foot injury.