As the first-round series between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets reaches its do-or-die Game 7, all eyes are on Canada Life Centre, where the tension is sure to be palpable. After six games marked by physicality and shifting momentum, it all comes down to one night.
Key Storylines
1. Home Ice Advantage
The home team has won every game in this series. The Winnipeg whiteout crowd has lived up to its reputation, creating one of the most intimidating playoff environments in hockey.
Can Winnipeg ride the wave of its fan base one more time, or will the pressure of Game 7 with whiteout conditions be too much to manage? Meanwhile, the Blues haven’t cracked the code on the road in this series, but they’ve done it before in big moments.
2. Goaltending Duel: Binnington vs. Hellebuyck
Jordan Binnington has elevated his play since 4 Nations Face-Off, giving the Blues confidence in tight situations. Connor Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy finalist this season, has had a turbulent series.
Despite his elite pedigree, Hellebuyck has been pulled in three of the six games, raising questions about his confidence and defensive support. In contrast, Binnington has weathered Winnipeg’s top-end rush chances more consistently.
Whichever goaltender can settle in and steal momentum early in Game 7 will likely tip the scale. For Hellebuyck, it’s a chance at redemption; for Binnington, an opportunity to reinforce his reputation as a clutch playoff performer.
3. Depth Scoring vs. Star Power
St. Louis has relied on a balanced attack, with contributions from all four lines. Winnipeg, by contrast, has been more reliant on its top-line firepower, particularly Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. With Scheifele ruled out for Game 7, the Jets face a critical offensive void. All eyes now turn to Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti as potential game-breaker candidates, and Winnipeg may need a spark from its third line to get the edge. If the Blues’ depth continues to outproduce Winnipeg’s thinned top-six, it could be the deciding factor in who moves on.