ST. LOUIS – Another day, another way.
The Winnipeg Jets once again overcame a deficit, though this one didn’t require any late-game heroics, but rather a three-goal outburst in the second period that tilted the game.
By holding off a late charge, the Jets earned a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues to improve to 6-0-0 on the season.
Jeff Roberson / The Associated Press
Kyle Connor stickhandles the puck past St. Louis Blues’ Ryan Suter during the first period.
“We need everybody to be contributing, and we are,” said Jets left-winger Kyle Connor, whose goal proved to be the game-winner. “You never know who it’s going to be on any single night and that’s what’s great about this team, it’s so tough to cover our depth.”
The Jets continue a three-game road trip on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken.
HEATING UP – By scoring his fifth goal of the season late in the second period, Connor extended his point streak to six games.
Connor showcased his extraordinary ability to fire the puck with a quick release that went off the crossbar and in on the blocker side of Jordan Binnington.
“Great play coming off a change. I had a lot of daylight coming down,” said Connor. “Saw a little opening there and went for it.”
The only game that Connor hasn’t scored in was the second, when he assisted on the overtime winner by linemate Mark Scheifele, who is also riding a six-game point streak and continues to lead the Jets in scoring.
Speaking of hot streaks, Cole Perfetti has put a quiet start to the season behind him by producing seven points during the past three outings.
Jeff Roberson / The Associated Press
Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele and St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Kyrou battle for a loose puck during the third period.
“It’s good for the confidence of the line. We’re feeling it the last couple of games here,” said Perfetti. “A lot of it is coming from our good D-zone. We’re taking care of things in our end of the ice and really trying to dial that in.”
Perfetti assisted on each of the Jets goals in the second period, but he made a critical play that won’t end up on the scoresheet, lifting the stick of Blues forward Brandon Saad before he could potentially tie the game with 5:30 to go in the third period.
“It was one of those ones where you see the play develop,” said Perfetti. “I thought the guy was probably going to pass it back to him. I just tried to get as much under him and lift his stick as hard as possible. Luckily, it worked out. I would have liked to have got the puck out before that and then that wouldn’t have happened. But it was a pretty good defensive game all around and from our line, so we’re going to build on that.”
THE PERFECT TIP – After being limited to only six shots on goal in the first period, the Jets leaned on their power play to get them going.
With former Brandon Wheat Kings captain Brayden Schenn serving a holding minor, Nino Niederreiter got to the front of the net and his body position allowed him to redirect a shot by Neal Pionk to tie the score 1-1.
Geting both units going early in the season has been and will continue to be important.
Jeff Roberson / The Associated Press
Nino Niederreiter opened the scoring for the Jets with a power-play goal.
“That group’s been great all year. You can see, sometimes they don’t have a lot of time to work with, but they make the most of it,” said Connor. “They play quick, you can see their pace is really good. Obviously just more of a direct mindset getting shots to the net.
Niederreiter has goals in consecutive games after scoring an empty-netter on Sunday in the 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Niederreiter had a glorious chance to make it 4-1 early in the first period, but he was unable to convert a backdoor pass through traffic.
The Blues made it a one-goal game a few minutes later, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
MILLER SHAKES OFF TUMBLE – Jets defenceman Colin Miller left the ice favouring his leg after getting tangled up in front of the net with Blues forward Jake Neighbours during the second period.
Miller was able to shake off the apparent leg injury to score his first goal of the season on a rocket of a shot from the point.
Perfetti put the puck on a tee for him and Miller unloaded.
Jeff Roberson / The Associated Press
Connor Hellebuyck slams the door on Mathieu Joseph Tuesday night in St. Louis.
THE SAVE – It was a strong effort by both netminders in this one, but an athletic kick save by Blues goalie Jordan Binnington was as timely as they come.
With the Jets leading by a goal, Scheifele found himself alone in front of Binnington after corralling the puck and as he extended on the backhand, Binnington kicked out his right pad to make an outstanding save.
EXTRA, EXTRA – Choosing the three stars is something that can create discussion and engagement, so let’s give it a go. The third star is Pionk, who seemed to be all over the ice in this one, chipping in an assist and five blocked shots. The second star belongs to Blues winger Brandon Saad, who managed to score twice on rebounds in front of Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The first star, is Perfetti for helping to get the Jets offence unlocked in the second period with three helpers.
Hellebuyck made his fifth start in six games and finished with 26 saves.
The Jets healthy scratches were forward David Gustafsson and defencemen Haydn Fleury and Dylan Coghlan.
Neighbours was in the news earlier in the day when he inked a two-year extension that carries an AAV of US$3.75 million that kicks in next season.
Jeff Roberson / The Associated Press
St. Louis Blues’ Alexandre Texier, right, tries to defend as Winnipeg Jets’ Mason Appleton chases a loose puck during the third period.
The Blues announced their 2025 Hall of Fame class will include Winnipegger Wayne Babych, goalie Curtis Joseph and defenceman Jim Roberts. Babych, who was chosen third overall by the Blues in the 1978 NHL Draft, spent the first six seasons of his NHL career with the Blues. He racked up 54 goals and 96 points in 78 games during the 1980-81 season, which was the most productive of his career. Babych also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers.
X: @WiebesWorld
Ken Wiebe
Sports reporter
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
