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Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Jets vs Blues Game 3: Live Stream NHL Playoffs, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues face off in a pivotal Game 3 at Enterprise Center, with the Jets holding a commanding 2-0 series lead in this first-round NHL Playoff matchup. Alex Iafallo #9 fights Jake Neighbours #63 of the St. Louis Blues in the third period of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre on April... Alex Iafallo #9 fights Jake Neighbours #63 of the St. Louis Blues in the third period of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre on April 19, 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada. More Photo byHow to Watch Jets vs. Blues, Game 3: When: Thursday, April 24, 2025 Time: 9:30 PM ET Where: Enterprise Center TV Channel: ESPN2 Live Stream: Fubo (Try for free!) After dropping the first two games of the series in Winnipeg, the series now shifts to St. Louis. The Blues finished the regular season on a 12-game home win streak and went 24-14-3 at Enterprise Center. Conversely, the Jets were the best road team in the NHL, securing 26 wins away from home. The first two games of the series have been highlighted by Winnipeg's ability to close out games. In Game 1, the Jets outscored the Blues 3-0 in the third period behind goals from Alex Iafallo, Kyle Connor, and Adam Lowry, ultimately winning 5-3. In Game 2, the Jets scored the only goal of the third period (Connor) to secure a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. If the Blues are going to get back into the series, they're going to need to ride the momentum of their home crowd, and they'll need more stops from goaltender Jordan Binnington, whose .872 save percentage in the playoffs is considerably lower than his regular season percentage of .900. Live stream Jets vs Blues on Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blues' biggest strength has become a weakness in back-to-back playoff losses to Jets
WINNIPEG — In the final two months of the regular season, St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery would sit down behind a microphone to discuss the superlatives that came with a dramatic run, and almost every time, it included how impressed he was with the third period. By now, Blues fans have memorized the team's record since the 4 Nations Face-Off: 19-4-3. But dig deeper and you'll find that within those 26 games, the Blues were almost unstoppable when they were leading, or even tied, heading into the third period. That's right, a record of 18-1 in games they either led or were tied in heading into the third. The one defeat came on April 7, a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, in which the teams were tied 1-1 heading into the third period. The Jets got a goal from Alex Iafallo midway through the period and an empty-netter from Adam Lowry. Advertisement Well, guess what? There's a theme here: Winnipeg. For the second time in three nights, the Blues found themselves in a familiar position. They were tied 1-1 heading into the third period in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series, and just 1:43 into the final frame, the Jets' Kyle Connor scored the go-ahead goal for what became his second game winner of the series in a 2-1 triumph over the Blues. In Game 1 Saturday, the Blues were leading 3-2 heading into the third period. The Jets got three unanswered goals, including the decisive game winner from Connor, in a 5-3 victory. 'Winnipeg has made one more play than us. Both games,' Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. 'Shots are dead even, so they're just making one more play, and their best players are making them.' As a result, Winnipeg leads 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, which heads to St. Louis for Game 3 on Thursday. With both games essentially being decided by one goal — the Jets added an empty-netter in Game 1 — one could make the case that the Blues deserved a little better fate in Winnipeg. The shots were 22-22 in Game 2, and the Jets have just a 49-39 edge in the series. However, they've outshot the Blues 16-7 and outscored them 4-0 in the third period. 'It's close,' Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. 'We had some chances, and they were able to capitalize on their chances in the third period so far. They did their job at home, and now it's our turn to go to the Enterprise, where we've had success, in front of our fans, and do our job.' It's no fluke that Winnipeg has been the only team to do this to the Blues three times in their last 28 games. The Jets won the Presidents' Trophy for a reason. But while they should get the credit for what they're doing — more specifically, what their top line is doing — the Blues are making some poor plays in their defensive zone to allow these game-deciding goals. Advertisement In Game 2 on Monday, the Blues tied the score 1-1 on Jimmy Snuggerud's first NHL playoff goal, which came on the power play with two seconds left in the first period. Neither team scored in the second period, setting up a third-period showdown. But less than two minutes in, Connor found himself wide open again and beat Blues goalie Jordan Binnington after multiple misplays, according to Montgomery. 'I thought we had good puck pressure on the play up top,' Montgomery said. 'I think that play should be killed behind the net by us, and then we got to be able to cover. We want to force the puck up high versus allowing 81 to get a shot from the hashmarks.' Blues defenseman Colton Parayko and forward Robert Thomas had a chance to kill the play, but Winnipeg's Cole Perfetti came out with the puck and sent it back up to the point. The Jets then moved it D to D before putting it back down below the goal line again, where Cam Fowler had another opportunity to extinguish the play. Instead, Mark Scheifele got the puck to Perfetti, who slipped it past Parayko and teammate Pavel Buchnevich to Connor for the easy shot from the slot. Thomas was nearby, looking on, but couldn't get to Scheifele behind the net, or Connor in front of the net. In trying to explain the scoring sequence, Parayko said, 'Just trying to hold and then a quick play behind the net, a quick strike out front and then, yeah, bang-bang.' Bang-bang, that's what it's felt like against Winnipeg's No. 1 line in this series. In the two games, Connor and Scheifele have a combined four goals and nine points, and seven of those points have come at five-on-five. For the Blues in the series, Thomas' line includes him at minus-4, Pavel Buchnevich minus-3, and Jimmy Snuggerud and Jake Neighbours, who've split time on that unit with Thomas and Buchnevich, both minus-2. The top defensive pair of Parayko and Fowler is also minus-4. Advertisement 'They just play well together,' Parayko said of Connor and Scheifele. 'They're dangerous from all areas, and they can score from all over the offensive zone. They've played together all year and know where each other are. They're just dangerous players whenever they get the puck.' 'They're just poised,' Snuggerud said. 'That's kind of how the NHL's turned to, like the corner plays. I feel like Connor does it really well. He's very poised in the corners. So you have to have your stick in seams throughout the whole game whenever they're on the ice. They're good at what they do, so it's it's tough, but you got to do it.' It also doesn't help that both Thomas and Parayko may not be at 100 percent. Thomas left the Blues' regular-season finale with a lower-body injury and missed a practice before the playoff series began. He's played both games in the series, including 23:13 in Game 2, but he was seen walking gingerly in the locker room after the game. Parayko missed close to six weeks with a knee scope, and while he returned for the final two games of the regular season, he doesn't appear to be himself either. So, what can the Blues do moving forward in the series against Winnipeg? For starters, look for a different matchup against the Jets' top line, which Montgomery will have control over as the home team. 'Well, we're going to have the last line change now,' Montgomery said. 'We have the matchup and whatever Monty wants,' Schenn said. 'We know they're good players. They've had good seasons. Just keep being hard on them, in your face, and try and make them play in their own end. So far, they've capitalized on their chances, and now it's our job to go home and worry about our job.' Offensively, the Blues haven't been nearly aggressive enough in front of Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck. They had just three high-danger chances in Game 2 on Monday compared to 12 by the Jets, according to Natural Stat Trick. In Game 1, it was 8-4 in favor of the Jets. Advertisement 'I do think they've been harder at the net front than we have offensively, and that's net hunger,' Montgomery said. 'Our net hunger needs to increase.' The Blues had just one rebound attempt at five-on-five Monday, according to Natural Stat Trick. 'Yeah, get inside a little bit more,' Schenn said. 'Do a little bit better job of getting traffic, and pucks and people to the net for some second opportunities.' And regardless of how close the games have been thus far, the Blues won't get back in the series without better third periods. 'Third periods, for sure,' Snuggerud said. 'They had two good third periods the last (two) nights, so I feel like we have to have a stronger third period, and we're working on it.' They've got two days to work on it before Game 3. 'As a group, we're not happy to be down 2-0, but the games are really close,' Montgomery said. 'There's not much separation going on right now. We need to make a separation, we need to find another level when we go home, so we can end up on top by a goal.' (Top photo of Kyle Connor scoring his second game winner of the series: Cameron Bartlett / Getty Images)
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Winnipeg Jets unsung Game 1 hero Alex Iafallo is used to doing things the hard way
It was a cold winter's day when Alex Iafallo's unique call for help appeared in the Winnipeg Jets player group chat. 'Does anybody have a chainsaw?' he asked. At first, no one knew what Iafallo wanted the chainsaw for. He's a known outdoor adventurer and camping enthusiast, but it was the middle of winter. He also lives in an apartment building: Iafallo isn't in charge of his own landscaping. Advertisement One teammate, speaking anonymously for a Jets player poll, tried to explain things. 'I would say Alex Iafallo (is the best at playing outside) and it's really not that close,' he said. 'He was asking me for a chainsaw earlier in the year to go cut out some ice, and I said, 'Dude, just get an ice auger.' He said, 'No, no, no. I want to do it old-school.' I guess chainsaws are old-school, but the guy is out there building igloos and stuff.' Iafallo is a unique character, soft-spoken in a scrum but playful and lighthearted with his teammates. In Los Angeles, where Iafallo regularly played on the top line with Anze Kopitar, he once sent a single roll of toilet paper to a teammate's house — via drone — back in 2020. In Winnipeg, where Iafallo scored the goal that tied Game 1 by driving the net and burying Mark Scheifele's rebound, he's known for his hard work on the ice and his appreciation of Manitoba's outdoors. Iafallo denied the igloo theory behind his chainsaw request, but the actual reason is just as wild. 'I wanted to jump into the river, like for a cold tub,' Iafallo told The Athletic in a recent interview. In Winnipeg? In winter? 'Yeah. In the Red,' Iafallo said. 'A stupid idea, but … I couldn't find the chainsaw.' This is the story of how an undrafted collegiate player with a unique sense of adventure became a clutch scorer for Winnipeg, stepping up from the fourth line to the first when Gabriel Vilardi was hurt. The more you speak with Iafallo, the less surprising it is that he wins his on-ice battles on a nightly basis or scored the goal that he did in Game 1. He's used to getting things done the hard way. He tends to insist upon it. Julianna Iafallo is a physical therapist, a retired NWHL hockey player and Alex Iafallo's little sister. She described her family's upbringing as 'outdoorsy,' but said her brother took that to the extreme. While the average Iafallo summer vacation meant hiking, camping and visiting national parks throughout the United States, Julianna said Alex is unique even among their family. Advertisement 'That (chainsaw request) sounds just like him,' she said. 'He is always trying to do things the old way rather than taking the easy way out.' What does this mean, exactly? Last summer, Iafallo wanted to get a fishing boat to add to his offseason adventures. Though he was three years into a contract that paid an annual average value of $4 million, he found a boat he liked on Facebook Marketplace and fixed it up himself. Julianna remembers that when they were teenagers, Alex and his friends did mechanical work on his family's four-wheelers and dirt bikes for pleasure. Fixing things is more satisfying to Iafallo than taking the easy route, she said. More recently, Iafallo's road trips have become a particular point of legend among his Jets teammates. Iafallo doesn't fly to or from Winnipeg to start the season. He drives, regardless of the distance. When the Jets acquired him, Iafallo was camping in a California mountain range and wasn't near his phone. A week went by between the blockbuster trade news and Iafallo's first interview because Iafallo was off the grid. 'He was camping for a week,' said the teammate who first proposed the igloo theory. 'That's why he didn't hear about it. Just put his phone away, like 'See ya!'' All of Iafallo's offseason pursuits seem to involve hard work, consistency and a little bit of madness. It is perhaps unsurprising that he is the sort of hockey player who fights to get to the hard areas of the ice. 'I just like doing things the wild way,' Iafallo told The Athletic. 'I just like camping, cruising around and finding good mountains and trails.' Contrast Iafallo's understated phrasing with the depiction given by teammate Morgan Barron. Iafallo and Barron played together for most of the season, prior to Iafallo's promotion to the top line due to Vilardi's injury. Barron said he admires Iafallo for his 'unwavering approach' at the rink, whether he gets 10 minutes or 20 on any given night. Advertisement Barron laughs when he thinks about the difference in their offseason drive home. 'I think we have a similar length of drive, except I always try to find a few nice hotels to stay in,' Barron said. 'Al just pops up his tent on the back of his truck and stays wherever he can find on the side of the road. You can draw that parallel to the way he works on the ice.' A post shared by Alex Iafallo (@alex_iafallo) Winnipeg didn't love its start to Game 1. The St. Louis Blues' forecheck was effective, limiting Jets breakouts and disrupting Winnipeg's rhythm. Arniel said on Sunday that the game turned in Winnipeg's favour in the second and third periods when the Jets started executing five-man breakouts. 'That first period, we weren't crisp. We … looked nervous. We didn't execute as well as we usually do and it had a lot to do (with) our breakouts,' Arniel said. 'But I thought we did a better job in the second period and in the third of our five-man breakouts, us supporting, coming back, playing fast. Those are all things that when we're on our game, we're doing well. It also leads you to play in their end of the rink a lot more.' There is no better example of this than Scheifele's support for Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk in the build-up to Iafallo's tying goal. Adjustments for Winnipeg against the Blues on Monday could come in the form of breakout tweaks. If the Jets can find rush offence, they'll take it, but their goal is to be better prepared to do things the hard way from the opening faceoff. Doing things the hard way is Iafallo's calling card. On Sunday, Iafallo was asked by one reporter: If Scheifele and Kyle Connor are the artists on that line, what trade would Iafallo use to describe himself? Before Iafallo had the chance to answer, someone suggested 'brick layer.' 'Brick layer,' Iafallo said, repeating the word. 'Yeah, I like that. Just get to the net.' Advertisement He's starting to sound more like the sort of person who would ask his teammates for a chainsaw in the middle of winter, no? The length of Iafallo's top line run is unclear. Vilardi skated at Sunday's optional practice, wearing a non-contact jersey, but his return does not appear to be imminent. I'd expect a slow progression out of the non-contact jersey and into heavier practices before a return — perhaps late in the Blues series or in time for Round 2. Nikolaj Ehlers isn't skating yet; he remains out week to week, while Rasmus Kupari has been cleared from concussion protocol but needs time to get back up to speed. The Jets' depth is getting tested, perhaps to its limit, but depth is a unique strength of the Jets roster. 'Because of that flexibility we have, you don't necessarily see him on the top line without injuries, but he's a player who is capable and then some of doing that,' Barron said. 'I think people don't often appreciate how great a player he is. He played on the first line in L.A. and scored some huge playoff goals along the way.' Iafallo has already scored a huge playoff goal in Round 1. It's hard to believe he wasn't drafted, despite playing four years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, including time spent with future NHL players like Pionk and Dominic Toninato. Now Iafallo is fresh off signing a three-year contract extension and is playing first-line minutes on a Presidents' Trophy-winning team with Stanley Cup aspirations. If it is meant to last, a playoff run also takes a dogged approach: players willing to do the right things over and over again until they get rewarded. Fixing four-wheelers and camping in remote mountains might not seem like playoff training, but there are parallels. Iafallo's life, on and off the ice, is about hard work — not in a single moment but over extended periods. Barron sees a link between Iafallo's approach off the ice and his tenacity on it; Iafallo says he's just trying to give the Jets the best version of himself. 'I just stay mentally prepared. I'm ready to go in different scenarios,' Iafallo said. 'Everyone wants to contribute the right way. You've got to do your job and give everything to the team. Playoffs is a step up. It's go time.' (Photo of Alex Iafallo celebrating his Game 1 goal with Kyle Connor: Terrence Lee / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Takeaways From Blues' 5-3 Loss Against Jets In Game 1 Of Western Conference First Round
Things were going like they intended it for the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Saturday. Their special teams were strong, they started the game hitting everything that moved, with a whopping 32 in the first period, and their special teams helped them carry a lead into the final 20 minutes. But the Blues succumbed in a big way. The Winnipeg Jets scored three times, including Kyle Connor's one-timer with 1:36 remaining to rally for a 5-3 win against the Blues at Canada Life Centre. The Blues, who trail the best-of-7 series 1-0 with Game 2 on Monday at 6:30 p.m., were 35-2-1 in the regular season when leading after two periods. It was almost automatic they would have the capability to close out a game but couldn't on Saturday. Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou scored power-play goals, Oskar Sundqvist scored and Jordan Binnington made 21 saves. Let's look at Saturday's Three Takeaways: * Horrendous third period -- The Blues are usually good at locking down the third, and coach Jim Montgomery has praised the players for their abilities to do so since the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Whatever that was on Saturday, this will be a quick series if that same blueprint and way of execution is in play. Instead of managing the game, the Blues played prevent defense for seemingly 20 minutes, sat back, didn't dictate any play and had just one shot on goal until a meaningless Mathieu Joseph shot on Connor Hellebuyck with seconds remaining. They had a chance to put a stranglehold on the game with a power play after killing off a Nick Leddy minor to begin the period but Zack Bolduc took an inexplicably bad cross checking minor to negate what was left of it and it seemed the Jets, even through they didn't score on the ensuing power play of their own, fed off the momentum. "We can't take that penalty in the playoffs, I do know that," Montgomery said." I thought we killed the penalty pretty good. I can't say it built momentum for them, but it took us from a situation where I thought we were a little bit in control and then we weren't." The Blues managed things until Alex Iafallo tied the game 3-3 when Scheifele took a puck around the net, and was defended well by Thomas, but Cam Fowler jumped into try and defend as well, leaving that side of the ice open. Scheifele's pass hit the side of the net right to an open Iafallo, who deposited a lot shot beyond Binnington's right pad. Winnipeg goal!Scored by Alex Iafallo with 10:42 remaining in the 3rd by Mark Scheifele and Kyle 3St. Louis: 3#STLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #stlblues — NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 20, 2025 The Blues didn't generate any offense because their play with the puck was poor at best. They couldn't string together, forget two passes, they couldn't put one pass together. They kept giving it back in the neutral zone, then had to defend much of the period, getting hemmed in and when they would get it, would give it right back. Then they iced a number of pucks, including Kyrou late that started the sequence that led to Connor's eventual game-winner. Connor had been robbed twice in the game earlier by Binnington. After Scheifele won the face-off from Thomas, who was 11-for-15, the puck came to the point, Josh Morrissey found Scheifele curling around the net along the left side, a pass to the low circle to Connor for a one-timer and it was 4-3. Adam Lowry iced it with an empty-netter to make it 5-3 at 19:07. Winnipeg goal!Scored by Kyle Connor with 01:36 remaining in the 3rd by Mark Scheifele and Josh 4St. Louis: 3#STLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #stlblues — NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 20, 2025 It was simply a terrible period for the Blues, one of their worst third periods all season and came at an inopportune time. "I didn't think we managed the game very well in the third period," Montgomery said. "Penalties. Puck management. A little bit of our emotions. "... I didn't think our puck management and decision-making was quick enough." * Need more from Schenn line offensively -- Brayden Schenn will never be questioned for his physical nature; the Blues captain had a game-high nine hits of the Blues' 53 in the game. But with a line of Schenn, Kyrou and Jimmy Snuggerud, that line had a Corsi-for/Corsi-against of 0-11 in the game. The Blues will not play beyond Game 4 if they don't get supportive scoring from someone other than the Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbours line. Even the fourth line of Radek Faksa, Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker had a Corsi rating of 3-13. No offense to Snuggerud, playing his first playoff game and eighth NHL game overall, but Saturday was a prime example of the Blues missing Dylan Holloway, who is a big influence in driving that line. * Special teams did its job -- You can't go wrong when your power-play gets you two goals, like the Blues' did. And quite frankly, if it wasn't for a lucky bounce off Ryan Suter's stick that gave Scheifele a gift power-play goal himself, the Blues' penalty killers would have been 4-for-4. But one way to quiet a home crowd as a visiting player is to make the opposition pay with the man advantage. Thomas made it 1-0 at 9:31 of the first when Cam Fowler kept a puck alive at the point, the second time on a backhand to Thomas, who made no mistake beating Hellebuyck with a wrister high glove. Power play goal for St. Louis!Scored by Robert Thomas with 10:29 remaining in the 1st by Cam Fowler and Pavel 0St. Louis: 1#STLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #stlblues — NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 19, 2025 And after Sundqvist tied it 2-2 with the Blues' only even strength goal at 18:10, Kyrou gave the Blues a 3-2 lead at 1:13 of the second period after a puck was worked around from left to the point to Kyrou, who had acres, it seemed, to skate into a wrister of his own and beat Hellebuyck high blocker (sense a theme here?). St. Louis goal!Scored by Oskar Sundqvist with 01:50 remaining in the 1st by Zack Bolduc and Justin 2St. Louis: 2#STLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #stlblues — NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 19, 2025 Power play goal for St. Louis!Scored by Jordan Kyrou with 18:47 remaining in the 2nd by Justin Faulk and Jake 2St. Louis: 3#STLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #stlblues — NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 19, 2025 The Blues finished 2-for-3 with the man advantage and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill, and on most nights, you're winning those hockey games, playoffs or not. Not this night though. "I think our special teams, ever since 4 Nations, it's been really good," Sundqvist said. "We just keep working on it. And, it's good to get some goals on the power play and killing some penalties off and then we just get back to work tomorrow and see what we need to do 5-on-5." * Here's what else Montgomery and players said postgame: 'We played a hard game. Lot of good things to take away from this game for sure. It's one game at a time and we know that.'Jordan Binnington and Brayden Schenn after Game 1 in Winnipeg. #stlblues — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 20, 2025
Fox Sports
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Jets host the Blues to open the NHL Playoffs
Associated Press St. Louis Blues (44-30-8, in the Central Division) vs. Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4, in the Central Division) Winnipeg, Manitoba; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Jets -181, Blues +150; over/under is 5.5 NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Jets host series opener BOTTOM LINE: The Winnipeg Jets host the St. Louis Blues to open the Western Conference first round. The teams meet Monday for the fifth time this season. The Jets went 3-1 against the Blues in the regular season. In their last regular season matchup on April 7, the Jets won 3-1. Winnipeg has a 19-7-0 record in Central Division play and a 56-22-4 record overall. The Jets have a 27-12-2 record in games their opponents commit more penalties. St. Louis has a 14-10-2 record in Central Division play and a 44-30-8 record overall. The Blues have gone 37-7-3 in games they score at least three goals. TOP PERFORMERS: Nikolaj Ehlers has 24 goals and 39 assists for the Jets. Alex Iafallo has four goals and three assists over the past 10 games. Robert Thomas has 21 goals and 60 assists for the Blues. Pavel Buchnevich has scored six goals and added four assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Jets: 7-3-0, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.5 assists, 1.9 penalties and 4.1 penalty minutes while giving up 1.6 goals per game. Blues: 7-2-1, averaging 3.6 goals, 6.4 assists, 2.8 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game. INJURIES: Jets: None listed. Blues: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended
