Welcome to NHL Predictions! Throughout the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Last Word On Hockey has analyzed every series and given a prediction for every game. We have just one more before we do it all again in round two. Thank you again for joining us as we break down Game 7 between the St. Louis Blues and the Winnipeg Jets.
NHL Predictions
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
Time: 7:00 P.M. EST
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, TBS, Max
Playoff Series: Tied 3-3
The Blues and Jets have battled through the first six games of this series. The Jets won two close games at home to open the series before the Blues evened things up on home ice with two dominant wins. The Jets took Game 5 at home, while the Blues forced Game 7 with another dominant win on home ice. Yes, the home team has won every series game so far. That favours the Jets, as they are hosting the deciding Game 7, but it is always more complicated than that in the NHL.
Game 7 History
The Jets have only played in one Game 7 in franchise history. In 2018, the team defeated the Nashville Predators on the road to advance to their first Western Conference Final.
The Blues will be playing in their 19th Game 7. They are 10-8 coming into this one. Their last victory in Game 7 is a memorable one, a 4-1 win in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. On that night, the Blues won their first Stanley Cup.
The Blues Story
The Blues may be 0-3 in Winnipeg in this series, but the first two games were close and games the Blues could have won. In Game 1, the Blues led 3-2 in the third period. However, the wheels fell off the wagon, and the Jets rallied to win. In Game 2, the game was tied heading into the third period, but an early Jets goal became the difference maker. In addition, the Blues failed to generate sustained pressure in that period.
Heading into this game, the Blues biggest weapon is the man between the pipes, Jordan Binnington. Binnington is 2-0 in his career when playing in a Game 7, including a 38-save performance in the 2019 Cup-clinching game. Earlier this season, Binnington played in a winner-take-all game when he helped Team Canada win the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off. In a twist, the goaltender opposing Binnington in that game was the Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The two will meet again on Sunday night, and Binnington will look to get the best of Hellebuyck again and send the Blue Note to the next round.
However, Binnington alone cannot send the Blues to the next round. The team needs to find a way to create opportunities on the road. The Blues have chased Hellebuyck from the game three times in this series, all at home. It is clear they know how to score on him. They have to find a way to do it on the road.
The Jets Story
The Jets won the President’s Trophy this season. They were a great home team, which has carried over into the playoffs. Despite all that, many wonder if the Jets can win the big game this season. Prior playoff history is not kind to the Jets and to Hellebuyck. Furthermore, the Jets led the series 2-0 and 3-2 and have failed to put the Blues away. Is that going to catch up to them? Or is this the year for the Jets to silence the doubters?
A big question remains for the Jets heading into Game 7. Will Mark Scheifele play? The forward was injured in Game 5 and did not play in Game 6. The Jets forward core was finally getting healthy, but now they may not have one of their best players for what is to date their most crucial game of the season. Scheifele will be a game-time decision for Game 7, so we will not know if he will play until right before the game.
Prediction
This series has seen at least seven combined goals in all but one game. While it may seem like we are in for a high-scoring Game 7, we think the goalies will steal the show on Sunday. We know what Binnington can do in a Game 7, but we also believe Hellebuyck rises to this challenge. Once again, it will be Binnington vs. Hellebuyck. Few goals will be scored, but who will score enough to win and advance?
60 minutes will not be enough. For the first time in this series, overtime will be played. Which team will win this game and advance? We are picking the road team to win.
Blues win, in overtime, 2-1.
Prop Bets
The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. We are taking the under with three total goals, but we understand if you prefer to take the over, given how this series has gone.
For prop bets, we are picking Nikolaj Ehlers as an anytime-scorer for the Jets. For the Blues, we are picking their captain, Brayden Schenn.
Speaking of the Schenn’s, we expect an emotional moment between Brayden and Luke Schenn in the handshake line after the game. Both players have left it all on the ice in this series.
Main Photo: Connor Hamilton- Imagn Images
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