Heaven knows what sort of spell SoulBear cast on the Blues before those previous games in Winnipeg. You’d like to think Jobu would offset whatever trance that Canadian crooner sends the Blues into after he delivers the national anthems at the Canada Life Centre, but Jobu has fallen short thus far.
Now, it comes down to one game. The Blues just need to flip the script on the Winnipeg Jets for one game across the border in Canada to advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Jets finished the regular season with the best record in the NHL, but the only thing separating these teams in this series has been the ability of the home team to eventually impose its will and dominate the flow of play.
The key to the Blues taking control of the game on the road the way they have at home rests largely with their defensemen.
“Both teams have proven the game that they want to play on their home ice,” Blues defenseman Cam Fowler said following Game 6. “We’ve done it here. They’ve done it there. Now, we have to go in and try to get to that game early.
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“I think we can take a lot of the things we’ve done here in our own building and transfer them to Winnipeg, but we know the situation we’re walking into, the team that we’re playing against and, obviously, the season they’ve had. They play really well on home ice. We have to get off to a good start, stick to the things that we’ve done well in the series.”

Blues forward Nathan Walker, left, joins defenseman Colton Parayko in the celebration of defenseman Cam Fowler’s goal against Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during second-period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
The Blues thoroughly mashed the Jets to the tune of a 17-5 aggregate score in three wins in Enterprise Center.
Even with the presence of dynamic star forwards like Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevic, who recorded a hat trick in Game 3 in ӣƵ, the D-men hold the key to the Blues hopes of getting to their “game” in a hostile environment Sunday evening.
In total, the blue liners have registered 23 points (six goals) in six games for the Blues.
While the defensemen are not necessarily putting the puck in the net at an overwhelming rate, their contributions to the breaking down the Jets’ defense have been pivotal.
Of the Blues’ 18 even-strength goals in the series, defensemen registered points on 12.
Since the last period of Game 1, the Jets have consistently mucked up Blues possessions in Winnipeg. They’ve taken pucks away, intercepted or deflected passes, cleared traffic from in front of goalie Connor Hellebuyck and generally smothered and disrupted movement in the Blues offensive zone.
The Jets often put the Blues on their heels starting in the neutral zone as they hindered offensive zone entries and forced the Blues, too often, to play a dump and chase game.
Meanwhile in ӣƵ, the Blues made the most of chances to strike in transition and the defensemen play a key part in this attack.
For example, there’s Fowler’s goal in Game 3. Buchnevich’s pass to Thomas allowed Thomas to get through the neutral zone on the move and make the Jets reactive when he enter the offensive zone. Then Thomas quickly passed to Fowler cutting through the middle of the ice before the defense could react and put up roadblocks.
Following Game 3, Blues coach Jim Montgomery referenced playing “chaotic” having worked in their favor. Friday night, Montgomery talked about the importance of getting through the neutral zone with speed in the Game 6 win.
Fowler, who already has a franchise record 10 points by a defenseman in a playoff series, also mentioned the skating ability of the Blues defensemen playing a role moving the puck through the neutral zone as a point of emphasis.
Game 6 served as a testament to the ability of the Blues defensive corps to play the role of offensive catalysts.
Defenseman Philip Broberg started the scoring with a shot reminiscent of the knuckle puck from “Mighty Ducks,” thanks to traffic in front of the net. Well, that possession got going when defenseman Justin Faulk took a pass in the neutral zone, brought the puck into the offensive zone with a head full of steam and started a sequence where the Jets defense scrambled.
In the second period on Nathan Walker’s goal, Broberg got the puck from Faulk after Faulk gloved it in the neutral zone and stopped the Jets’ transition from offense to defense in its tracks. Broberg then used his speed to skate behind the goal, changed directions, drew the attention of defenders and then fed Walker in front of the net.
Brayden Schenn’s goal came off a phenomenal play by Jake Neighbours to get his stick on the puck in traffic and direct it to Schenn as he streaked through the neutral zone. The long pass to Neighbours that set up the Schenn feed came from defenseman Ryan Suter.
Fowler’s goal started with him flipping the puck into the zone, using his speed to retrieve it, sending it back out to the blue line and then skating into position to receive a pass from defenseman Colton Parayko in the slot.
It’s that ability — to transport the puck, create chances in transition and keep the Jets from setting up their defense and boxing in the puck — that makes the Blues defensemen crucial to dictating the flow of Game 7 and giving the Blues a chance at a special outcome.
“It’s about seizing an opportunity for us,” Montgomery said. “You’re in Game 7 of the playoffs. It’s what we’ve all dreamed of that are in that organization, in that locker room together. These are the moments.
“You don’t think about Game 1 when you’re playing in your basement or you’re playing street hockey or you’re playing knee hockey with your best friend or brother or whatever the case may be. It’s Game 7. It’s overtime. And it’s about us seizing an opportunity. It’s an opportunity that we’ve earned, and now we’ve got to go seize it.”
Photos: Blues force Game 7 in Winnipeg with 5-2 win over Jets

ӣƵ Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko (13)celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Nathan Walker (26) celebrates Blues’ defenseman Cam Fowler (17)against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Brayden Schenn (10)celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stops a shot by Jets center Gabriel Vilardi during third-period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forwards Jimmy Snuggerud (21) and Zack Bolduc (76) try to score against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (6) shoves Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (4) during a scrum in third-period action of Game 6 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoffs series Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (25) watches as a shot Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) scores against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) shoves Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) in first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues head coach Jim Montgomery disagrees with a call during third period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues defenseman Nick Leddy (4) keeps the puck away from Winnipeg Jets left wing Brandon Tanev (73) in first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg, left, upends Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud during first-period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Brayden Schenn (10)celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (6) celebrates his goal during first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues forward Jake Neighbours (63) controls the puck in the offensive zone during second-period action in Game 6 of the Blues’ first-round Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Nathan Walker (26) celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko, right, celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during second-period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) shoves Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) in first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (6) celebrates his goal during first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Robert Thomas (18) defends against Winnipeg Jets forward Brandon Tanev (73) during first period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) clears the puck in third period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) stops a shot by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) in third period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues forward Radek Faksa (12) congratulates Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) on the Blues 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues fan Ryanna Bailey, center, cheers as Blues go up 5-1 during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Police Officer Nathan Spiess and his girlfriend Taylor Dowling admire his honorary Blues jersey before the start of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

The ӣƵ Blues honor ӣƵ Police Officer Nathan Spiess who was injured in the line of duty while attempting to arrest a suspected car thief back in March before the start of of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

ӣƵ Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) takes the ice before Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com