The St. Louis Blues roared back into the 2025 NHL Playoffs with a dominating 7-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of the first-round series, trimming the Jets’ lead to 2-1. After dropping the first two games in Winnipeg, the Blues returned home determined to shift the series momentum—and they did just that with one of their best postseason performances in recent memory.
Buchnevich’s Breakout: First Career Playoff Hat Trick
The night belonged to Pavel Buchnevich, who tallied his first career Stanley Cup Playoff hat trick and added an assist to headline the Blues’ offensive explosion. His chemistry with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou was electric, as the trio combined for eight points on the night.
Defense Steps Up: Cam Fowler Sets Franchise Record
Defenseman Cam Fowler had a career night, becoming the first Blues defenseman to record five points in a single playoff game (1 goal, 4 assists). His puck movement and precision passing from the blue line helped fuel the offense and keep Winnipeg’s defense off balance.
Total Team Effort
The Blues got scoring contributions from across the lineup:
- Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and Alexey Toropchenko each added a goal.
- Robert Thomas contributed four assists, putting on a playmaking clinic.
- Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 16 saves and remained steady between the pipes, locking down the Jets during critical moments.
Jets Collapse Early, Hellebuyck Pulled
Winnipeg had no answers for the Blues’ relentless attack. David Gustafsson and Neal Pionk were the only Jets to find the back of the net. Starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck struggled mightily, surrendering six goals on 25 shots before being pulled in the third period for Eric Comrie.
The Jets came into the game with momentum from back-to-back wins at home, but they couldn’t match St. Louis’ physicality and energy in a raucous Enterprise Center. The Blues outhit the Jets 63–65 in a record-setting 128-hit playoff battle.
Series Outlook & What’s Next
Despite the setback, Winnipeg still holds a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 on Sunday, April 27 in St. Louis. With their home crowd behind them, the Blues will look to tie the series before it returns to Winnipeg for Game 5.
Upcoming Games:
- Game 4 – Sunday, April 27 @ St. Louis
- Game 5 – Wednesday, April 30 @ Winnipeg
- Game 6 – Friday, May 2 (if needed) @ St. Louis
- Game 7 – Sunday, May 4 (if needed) @ Winnipeg
The 2025 NHL Playoffs are heating up, and if Game 3 is any indication, this Blues vs. Jets series is far from over. Stay tuned for more updates, highlights, and playoff drama at USSportsRecap.com.
