logo
Winnipeg takes 3-2 series lead into game 6 against St. Louis

Winnipeg takes 3-2 series lead into game 6 against St. Louis

Yahoo02-05-2025

Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4, in the Central Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (44-30-8, in the Central Division)
St. Louis; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blues -120, Jets -100; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Jets lead series 3-2
Advertisement
BOTTOM LINE: The Winnipeg Jets visit the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-2 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the 10th time this season. The Jets won 5-3 in the last meeting.
St. Louis is 44-30-8 overall and 16-13-2 against the Central Division. The Blues have a +19 scoring differential, with 250 total goals scored and 231 allowed.
Winnipeg has a 22-9-0 record in Central Division games and a 56-22-4 record overall. The Jets have an 18-4-3 record in games decided by one goal.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Neighbours has scored 22 goals with 24 assists for the Blues. Pavel Buchnevich has seven goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
Advertisement
Kyle Connor has 41 goals and 56 assists for the Jets. Mark Scheifele has scored three goals and added seven assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blues: 4-5-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.8 assists, 4.2 penalties and 15.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Jets: 7-3-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.2 assists, 4.2 penalties and 16.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Blues: None listed.
Jets: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

2025 NFL odds: Back Aaron Rodgers, Steelers to lose in wild-card round
2025 NFL odds: Back Aaron Rodgers, Steelers to lose in wild-card round

Fox Sports

time2 hours ago

  • Fox Sports

2025 NFL odds: Back Aaron Rodgers, Steelers to lose in wild-card round

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally turned rumor into reality last week, signing future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year contract. Rodgers joins the third team of his illustrious career, leaving behind a disappointing and forgettable two-year Jets tenure. The most memorable moment during that stint? The season-ending injury he suffered on his first series with the team in September 2023. In 2024, the Jets had a healthy Rodgers but couldn't come close to living up to lofty expectations, as they finished 5-12. Despite the disastrous team results a year ago, Rodgers put up a respectable 28 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. For the second straight year, the Steelers will try to milk the last drop of quality football from a once-elite quarterback. Last year, they took a shot on Russell Wilson and had mixed results. Will this year be any different? Well, we know one thing: Mike Tomlin is likely to put a respectable product on the field. Since taking over as head coach in 2007, the Steelers have never done worse than 8-8. The 6-10 mark the Steelers had in 2003 was their last losing season, back when their quarterback was Tommy Maddox. But as consistent as the Steelers have been under Tomlin, it's also been nearly a decade since they've won a playoff game. The franchise has been stuck in a cycle of being not quite good enough to be a legitimate contender but not bad enough to get a high draft pick and select a franchise quarterback. Does anything change this year? Perhaps. Maybe Rodgers has enough upside (and downside) to break the trend of respectability/mediocrity and either win this team a playoff game or produce a season similar to the one with the Jets last year that leads to a top-10 pick. But how will it ultimately play out? And what's the bet? The Pittsburgh Steelers to lose in the wild-card round is +330 (a $10 bet pays $43 total). The Steelers have the defense and infrastructure to always be a playoff-caliber squad. Aaron Rodgers — as disappointing as last year was — still put up stats that can translate to team success if put in the right situation. The Steelers should, once again, be firmly in the mix for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for them, it's likely once again a wild-card spot, considering the Ravens are a cut above the Steelers in the AFC North. A wild-card spot means a road playoff game to start the postseason and likely a date with one of the many premier quarterbacks in the AFC. Think Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or maybe even Joe Burrow. In four of the last five years, the Steelers have lost in the wild-card round. They've lost to Mahomes, Allen, and Jackson over that stretch, as well as Baker Mayfield. Pittsburgh is the model of consistency but has lost its last six playoff games and has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Rodgers is an all-time great player, but at this stage of his career, it is not enough to break this cycle of losing early in the postseason. PICK: Steelers (+330) to lose in wild-card round Will Hill, a contributor on the Bears Bets Podcast, has been betting on sports for over a decade. He is a betting analyst who has been a host on VSiN, as well as the Goldboys Network. ​​Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

What we've learned about Edmonton Oilers in 2025 Stanley Cup Final so far
What we've learned about Edmonton Oilers in 2025 Stanley Cup Final so far

New York Times

time4 hours ago

  • New York Times

What we've learned about Edmonton Oilers in 2025 Stanley Cup Final so far

Through the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton Oilers fans can draw some strong conclusions about their team. No Western Conference opponent in this spring's playoffs came close to matching the battle of the Florida Panthers, and the thrill ride of this final will be remembered for a long time. Advertisement What have fans learned about the Oilers? Plenty. Edmonton's top winger did not repeat his 54-goal season of 2023-24, nor his 16-goal playoff run in the spring of 2024. However, even with 27 regular-season goals and another five tallies this spring, Hyman's presence in the lineup gave the Oilers an edge. He was rock solid through the first two series against the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights. In the series versus the Dallas Stars, he once again delivered until he was injured (he missed the final game against Dallas and will miss the entire final series against the Panthers). Hyman's performance at five-on-five while healthy was impressive. Edmonton's 4.09 goals per 60 while he was on the ice was the No. 1 total among regular forwards, and his 65 percent on-ice goal share in the discipline ranked No. 3 among Oilers regulars. Individually, he posted 1.09 goals per 60 and 2.18 points per 60 at five-on-five, both quality totals. He led the Oilers forward group with 6.5 high-danger chances per 60 in the game state. His hits per 60 at five-on-five (28.34) leads all NHL forwards with 100-plus minutes during the 2025 playoffs. Hyman's ability to find quiet ice, play a complementary scoring role and give the top line a physical presence has been sorely missed in the games played since he was injured. All observers knew the Oilers' 2024 playoff penalty kill was unique. Everyone realized it could not be duplicated. There was hope it would remain a strength. That has not come to pass. Here are the numbers through three games: All numbers penalty kill, via Natural Stat Trick Entering Game 4, the Oilers had surrendered 21 goals while not scoring short-handed. That compared poorly to the Panthers (one goal for, 10 against) and is an area of weakness for this version of the hockey club. On Thursday night, the Oilers gave up two goals on the penalty kill, but managed to score a huge goal (the first Edmonton goal of the night, by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) to get things started in the second period. That goal signalled a massive turnaround in the game and the series. Advertisement In last year's final, Connor McDavid's five-on-five goal share (78 percent) was something to behold. Despite a 58 percent expected goal share, the Oilers outscored Florida 7-2 when the captain was on the ice, via Natural Stat Trick. Individually, McDavid scored 1.08 goals per 60 and 3.25 points per 60 during the series against the Panthers one year ago. In this year's final, McDavid's five-on-five on-ice expected goal share (56 percent) through three games was a doppelganger for his 2024 number. Unfortunately for McDavid and the Oilers, that's where the similarity ends. His actual goal share (2-4, 33 percent) shows a No. 1 line that is struggling to score and giving up more than a goal per game defensively. His points per 60 this year (0.77) in the final is far off last season's mark, and he has yet to score at five-on-five in this series. McDavid's breakout will be loud when it comes. The Oilers had a tough time in Sunrise. Beginning early in Game 3 (the defence and goaltending on the first goal by Brad Marchand), Edmonton seemed unable to maintain any kind of structure. The lack of discipline on the Marchand goal at 56 seconds of the first period of Game 3 bled into all areas of the two games in Sunrise. The Oilers took penalties at a rapid clip. The penalty kill from a year ago may have had a chance against the avalanche of short-handed minutes, but this year's version of the team was found badly wanting. The outlet passes that had been a key to the Oilers' success in the previous series were evident early in Game 1 at Rogers Place, but the Panthers suffocated the outlets, and Edmonton was unable to adjust. Lack of discipline emerged as a key issue for this version of the Oilers during Game 2 and much of Game 3 in Florida. Advertisement Since he arrived as Edmonton's head coach 20 months ago, Kris Knoblauch has been able to find solutions to multiple problems. Knoblauch is a tactician with a growing reputation for innovation. He also has his finger on the pulse of the team, and his lineup shuffles often result in quick turnarounds and long winning streaks. The only hurdle he hasn't been able to overcome is the Panthers. Florida coach Paul Maurice appeared to be Knoblauch's Moby Dick. In the games this week, Knoblauch's calm breakouts and defensive structure disappeared in a parade to the penalty box, turnovers in the Edmonton zone and baffling passes to nowhere. The dismantling of the Knoblauch plan appeared complete. In the pivotal moment of Game 4, Knoblauch inserted backup goaltender Calvin Pickard into the lineup to begin the second period. Pickard was the owner of a 6-0 record before Thursday night, and is now 7-0 this postseason. Oilers fans of a certain age well remember the five Stanley Cup victories in seven years from 1984 to 1990. However, for younger fans, the 2006 and 2024 losses, both in seven games, are all they know of the Stanley Cup Final experience. The idea that losing a seven-game series is the ultimate pain rings true. However, the pain of watching a team arrive at the final and be denied twice by the same team, the second time in easier fashion over fewer games, would be almost too much to take. The Oilers won a massive game, but the job is not done. Edmonton is now in a best-of-three series against a team that takes all of the oxygen out of the rink with a demonic forecheck, employs a goaltender who is emerging as a strong candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy and is led by a coach who seemed to have all the answers until Thursday night.

A White Sox cap at the Vatican? Pope Leo XIV is 'like any other guy in Chicago on the South Side'
A White Sox cap at the Vatican? Pope Leo XIV is 'like any other guy in Chicago on the South Side'

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

A White Sox cap at the Vatican? Pope Leo XIV is 'like any other guy in Chicago on the South Side'

Pope Leo XIV wears a Chicago White Sox hat as he meets newly married couples during the weekly general audience this week in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. (Filippo Monteforte / AFP via Getty Images) Pope Leo XIV is a huge Chicago White Sox fan. It's a good thing too — otherwise the event being thrown in his honor at the team's home stadium this weekend might be a little awkward. While the White Sox play the Rangers in Texas on Saturday afternoon, the Archdiocese of Chicago will be at Rate Field celebrating the new leader of the Catholic Church — who was born and raised on the city's South Side — with a Mass by Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich and other festivities. Advertisement Read more: Mookie Betts' toddler son runs away with first-pitch baseball. It's as adorable as it sounds While the man once known as Robert Prevost won't be there in person, he will appear in what event organizers describe as "a video message from Pope Leo XIV to the young people of the world." Leo will also be represented in mural form. The White Sox unveiled a graphic installation featuring his likeness on a concourse wall before a May 19 game against the Seattle Mariners, less than two weeks after Leo was selected as the first U.S.-born pope. He replaced Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88. The Chicago White Sox have commemorated the fandom of Pope Leo XIV with a graphic installation at Rate Field. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press) The graphic was installed next to Section 140, where Leo sat in Row 19, Seat 2 for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and Houston Astros. As remarkable as it might sound, there is footage from Fox's national broadcast of that Oct. 22, that shows the man then-known as Father Bob in the stands at the stadium then-known as U.S. Cellular Field. Advertisement Hosting a World Series game for the first time since 1959, the White Sox led by two runs with one out in the top of the ninth inning. Chicago closer Bobby Jenks had just thrown a 95-mph fastball past Houston's Adam Everett for an 0-1 count and was preparing for his next pitch. That's when the camera panned to a nervous-looking Father Bob, who appears to be wearing a team jacket over a team jersey. Viewers never got to see the future pope's reaction to what happens next, but he must have been ecstatic as Jenks strikes out Everett in two more pitches for a 5-3 Chicago win. The White Sox would go on to sweep the Astros for their first World Series win since 1917. Advertisement "That was his thing. He liked to get out and go to a game once in a while," Louis Prevost told the Chicago Tribune of his brother, the future pope. "Eat a hot dog. Have some pizza. Like any other guy in Chicago on the South Side.' His favorite team may have fallen on harder times since then — the White Sox are an American League-worst 23-45 and 20.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the Central Division — but Leo is still willing to put his fandom on display for the world to see. Read more: Shohei Ohtani thought he was 'in trouble' before Dave Roberts gifted him a toy Porsche On Wednesday, he wore a White Sox hat along with his traditional papal cassock while blessing newly married couples in St. Peter's Square outside the Vatican. Advertisement Kelly and Gary DeStefano, who live in Haverhill, Mass., and are Boston Red Sox fans, gave him the hat. Kelly DeStefano told they were just trying to get the new pope's attention. 'I just wanted to make sure everyone at home knew that we did not turn on our team," she told "It was all in joke and good fun.' Chicago White Sox fans dress up like fellow White Sox fan Pope Leo XIV to watch a game against the Cubs on May 17 at Wrigley Field. (Paul Beaty / Associated Press) It worked, with reporting that Leo gave the couple a good-natured ribbing once he found out where they are from. 'You're going to get in trouble for this,' he told them, in a video of the meeting. 'Don't tell anyone in Massachusetts,' Kelly DeStefano replied. Advertisement While Leo might be a little too busy to attend a game anytime soon, White Sox executive vice president, chief revenue and marketing officer Brooks Boyer said last month that the pope is welcome to return to Rate Field whenever he wants. 'He has an open invite to throw out a first pitch,' Boyer said. 'Heck, maybe we'll let him get an at-bat.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store