It all comes down to this decisive moment. The Presidents` Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets are set to host the St. Louis Blues in a historic contest, marking the 200th Game 7 in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
For one team, victory means advancing to the second round; for the other, it signifies the abrupt end of their season and the immediate beginning of offseason preparations to address shortcomings.
The St. Louis Blues bring significant Game 7 experience to the ice, participating in their 19th decisive contest, a record for non-Original Six franchises. Their historical record stands at 10-8 in Games 7s, most recently securing a victory in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins.
In contrast, the current Winnipeg Jets team has limited Game 7 history, having only played one previously – a win against the Nashville Predators in the second round in 2018.
The central question now is, who will emerge victorious? We`ve consulted hockey experts for their insights on the key players to watch and their final score predictions for this pivotal winner-take-all game.
Key Player to Watch in Game 7?
Ryan S. Clark: The key player to watch is Mark Scheifele, *if* he is able to play. The hit he sustained in Game 5 highlighted his significance to the Jets; his absence affected their performance later in that game and in Game 6. His status for Game 7 remains uncertain, listed as a game-time decision.
Arda Öcal: Connor Hellebuyck is the critical player. His performance has been drastically inconsistent throughout the series, exceptional at home but struggling significantly on the road, where he has allowed four or more goals in seven consecutive playoff games. With Game 7 being at home, the question is which version of the goalie will show up under pressure.
Kristen Shilton: Connor Hellebuyck is the primary focus, given his dramatic performance difference between home and road games in this series. Will his strong home form continue in Game 7, or will the road struggles follow him? Additionally, keep an eye on Pavel Buchnevich for the Blues. He has been a key offensive contributor, and St. Louis will need him to deliver another standout performance if they hope to win on the road against a potentially in-form Hellebuyck.
Greg Wyshynski: Jordan Binnington is crucial for St. Louis. He has a history of clutch performances, notably backstopping the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup with two Game 7 wins. Although his stats in Winnipeg during this series haven`t been stellar (.861 SV%, 3.44 GAA), he is known for rising to the occasion in high-pressure situations. He`ll need to channel that clutch history again.
Final Score Predictions
Clark: Predicts a 4-3 Jets win. Based on the series trends of high scoring and the home team winning every game, he expects the Jets to secure the victory at home and advance to the next round.
Öcal: Predicts a 6-5 Jets win. Despite a potentially shaky performance from Hellebuyck, he believes the Jets` potent offense will compensate, with Kyle Connor scoring a crucial late goal in the third period to seal the high-scoring victory.
Shilton: Predicts a 5-4 Jets win. She expects Winnipeg`s strong home record to hold, suggesting their offense can overcome any goaltending issues to secure a close, high-scoring victory and advance from the first round.
Wyshynski: Predicts a 5-3 Jets win. He notes Hellebuyck`s poor road performance but anticipates relative stability at home. With Winnipeg possessing a strong home offense (second only to St. Louis`s road offense in the playoffs), he believes Hellebuyck will be sufficient, and the Jets` offense, potentially boosted by Nikolaj Ehlers` return, will be decisive in securing the home victory.
