Blues score three 2nd period goals
to beat Jets 5-1 and tie series 2-2 Sunday
[April 28, 2025]
By DAVID SOLOMON
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brayden Schenn, Tyler Tucker and Justin Faulk each
scored second period goals to help the St. Louis Blues beat the
Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on Sunday to tie their playoff series at 2-all
after dropping the first two games in Winnipeg.
Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours also scored, and Jordan Binnington
made 30 saves for St. Louis, which has won 14 straight regular
season and playoff games at home dating back to Feb. 23.
“We knew where we were," Faulk said. “We had a job to do when we
came back. Start with the first one, come in and try and play well,
get to our game. Obviously, the first one went pretty well and went
our way. We knew we had to try and recreate that again today.”
Kyle Connor scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 13 saves for Winnipeg
before being pulled after Thomas scored his second goal of the
playoffs 2:01 into the third period.
Eric Comrie made five saves in relief of Hellebuyck, who has allowed
at least four goals in 10 of his last 13 playoff appearances and has
been pulled in consecutive games for just the second time in his
career counting the regular season.
“I can look at all the goals,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “Those
are coverage goals. Those are things that we usually handle pretty
well. We didn't tonight.”
Schenn gave the Blues a 3-1 lead with 2:37 remaining in the second
period when he wristed a puck in the crease over Hellebuyck for his
first goal of the playoffs just five seconds after Jets captain Adam
Lowry returned from serving a roughing penalty.
“The benefit of having guys like (Jordan) Kyrou, Schenn and
Neighbours on your second line is you get favorable matchups at
home.,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Give credit to them for
taking advantage of it, scoring at the end of the power play and
getting that other big goal 5-on-5. When you see a skilled player
like Jordan Kyrou being at the net front helping create screens, you
know your team’s really invested.”
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St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk reacts after scoring against the
Winnipeg Jets during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey
first-round playoff series Sunday, April 27, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP
Photo/Connor Hamilton)
Tucker scored his first career playoff goal on a
slap shot from the point to give the Blues a 2-1 lead with 9:04 left
in the second period. Tucker needed help leaving the ice with 4:17
remaining in the game after his legs slammed into the boards
awkwardly as Oskar Sundqvist delivered a hit on Brandon Tanev next
to him.
“I don’t have an update,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said about
Tucker. “His goal was huge for us getting a lead and being able to
play with the lead. I thought he was really aggressive. I thought
that was his best game of the three games.”
Neighbours used the blade of his stick to deflect a shot from Colton
Parayko past Hellebuyck for his first career playoff goal with 23
seconds remaining in the first period.
“It felt really good because I felt I had multiple instances where I
could have made a difference on their first goal,” Neighbours said.
“It was nice to get one back for the team. The emotion of it, it’s
just exciting. It’s the playoffs, you want to compete for your team
and help out any way you can. It was a good feeling.”
Connor scored his third goal of the postseason with 6:02 left in the
first period to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.
“You've got to reset,” Jets defenseman Luke Schenn said. “I don’t
think anyone expected this to be an easy series, at least,
personally, I didn’t. I watched the Blues' last two months of the
season — they’re the hottest team in the NHL for a reason, and have
the best home record and didn’t lose at home down the stretch.”
The Jets and Blues return to Winnipeg for Game 5 Wednesday night.
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