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The Winnipeg Jets’ series lead has slipped away after a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night. With back-to-back defeats in St. Louis, the first-round matchup is now tied at two games apiece.
The Jets had entered Missouri with a commanding 2-0 series lead, but head home looking for answers after two tough outings — and two early exits for their star goaltender.
Early momentum fades
The Jets came out strong in Game 4, controlling much of the play and getting on the board first. Kyle Connor opened the scoring at 13:58 of the first period, cleaning up a loose puck with a slick backhander. Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg earned the assists.
Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up 🎶 pic.twitter.com/JvswqmLpiF
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 27, 2025
Despite outshooting St. Louis 12-5 in the opening frame, the Jets saw their momentum end late when Jake Neighbours tied the game at 19:37.
The Jets had some control and seemed to have momentum through the first half of the second. But St. Louis took control in the second half, capitalizing on Winnipeg’s mistakes. Tyler Tucker gave the Blues a 2-1 lead at 10:46, and the floodgates opened from there.
Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk added quick goals late in the period to put the Blues up 4-1 heading into the third.
Robert Thomas made it 5-1 just two minutes into the final frame, ending Connor Hellebuyck’s night for the second game in a row. Hellebuyck stopped 13 of 18 shots before being replaced by Eric Comrie, who turned aside all six shots he faced in relief.
Trouble on the road and in goal
After leading the NHL with a .925 save percentage in the regular season, Hellebuyck's numbers have dropped to .844 through four games. He's allowed 11 goals on 43 shots in the last two games alone, making for a paltry .744 save percentage.
While the Blues have benefited from some fortunate bounces, the Jets need their Vezina-calibre goaltender to bounce back with the series now a best-of-three.
The Jets have also lost five consecutive playoff games on the road, a skid that began last year.
Neither side found success on the man advantage in Game 4. Winnipeg went 0-for-2 on the power play but successfully killed off all three St. Louis chances.
Game 5 shifts back to Winnipeg, where the Jets will try to regroup in front of a fired-up Whiteout crowd. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. CDT on Wednesday night.
We’re taking you LIVE to postgame interviews with players and head coach Scott Arniel. https://t.co/usfDDHGGRd
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 27, 2025