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![\"Connor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4129613_web1_7f2e1a6a1c5544eab32f3adadb6a0b8e.JPG\")
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Connor Hamilton \/ The Associated Press<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets\u2019 Alex Iafallo celebrates with teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues in the first period of the Jets 3-2 victory, Thursday in St. Louis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just five, six or seven guys, everybody is doing it. In their own little way, they\u2019re contributing and helping battle and compete and just staying in games like we\u2019ve been doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
St. Louis had collected points in 16 of 20 games since NHL players returned from Italy, which was the best mark in the West. Right behind them is Winnipeg, which is now 13-5-4 in that span. The Blues, now 33-33-12 overall, have run out of time. They are toast.<\/p>\n
GOLD MEDAL REMATCH<\/p>\n
Same goalies, slightly lower stakes. Same result.<\/p>\n
The last time we saw Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington on the ice at the same time, they were facing off for the gold medal in Milan. Hellebuyck put on a show that day as his United States squad downed Binnington\u2019s Canadian crew in overtime.<\/p>\n
Hellebuyck stopped 20 of 22 in this one, including a a brilliant point-blank one off Blues forward Jake Neighbours in the second period when the score was tied. He also had some help from Morrissey, who used his stick to steal what looked like a sure goal by Dylan Holloway earlier in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust this time of year is desperation hockey, so try to keep out of the net. And you know what? Thankfully, it didn\u2019t go in,\u201d Morrissey told CJOB.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Connor Hamilton \/ The Associated Press<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Alex Iafallo and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck defend against St. Louis Blues\u2019 Jordan Kyrou during the second period.<\/p>\n Holloway had opened the scoring early in the first period, while St. Louis defenceman Colton Parayko \u2014 Morrissey\u2019s partner at the Olympics \u2014 beat him with a wicked wrister late in the final frame.<\/p>\n Hellebuyck has been an absolute workhorse, starting 19 of Winnipeg\u2019s last 21 games. He\u2019s likely not going to vacate the net unless the Jets either clinch a spot or are knocked out of contention.<\/p>\n Binnington was terrific as well \u2014 not to mention much busier \u2014 as the Jets fired 34 shots, including a season-high 16 in the first period.<\/p>\n CENTURY MARK<\/p>\n Jets centre Mark Scheifele continued his stellar run of play with assists on Winnipeg\u2019s first two goals by Alex Iafallo \u2014 it was a heck of a pass to set up his linemate\u2019s 13th of the year \u2014 and then a secondary helper on Morrissey\u2019s 12th of the campaign.<\/p>\n Add it up and Scheifele is now at 99 points on the year \u2014 including 16 in the past eight games alone. He\u2019s stepping up huge when his team needs it the most.<\/p>\n That\u2019s already a dozen more than his previous career high. Scheifele came close to the century mark in the third period when Iafallo just missed on his second of the night.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Connor Hamilton \/ The Associated Press<\/p>\n St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, left, defends the net against Winnipeg Jets\u2019 Mark Scheifele, right, during the first period.<\/p>\n The 33-year-old sits fifth in NHL scoring, trailing only Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini.<\/p>\n GAME-WINNER<\/p>\n The Jets signed Jonathan Toews last summer to hopefully come up with some key contributions. And they got one Thursday as he finished off a slick passing play with linemate Cole Perfetti to score his second goal in as many games and 11th of the year.<\/p>\n It came just 100 seconds after Morrissey\u2019s goal, giving the Jets a 3-1 lead at the time.<\/p>\n Toews, 37, may not have the foot speed he once did, but there\u2019s no question the hands are still there. It wouldn\u2019t be a surprise, once this season is done, to see the Jets and the hometown product \u2014 who was just selected as Winnipeg\u2019s Masterton Trophy nominee \u2014 come to an agreement on a one-year contract extension.<\/p>\n FROM ANGELS TO DEVILS<\/p>\n The Jets had been hockey angels since the Olympic break, taking the fewest number of penalties amongst all NHL teams. In their last two games, they\u2019d been shorthanded for a grand total of nine seconds, with Scheifele taking the lone infraction at 19:51 of the third period last Saturday in Columbus.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Connor Hamilton \/ The Associated Press<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets\u2019 Jonathan Toews controls the puck during the second period.<\/p>\n Thursday was a different story.<\/p>\n The Jets took five minor penalties on the night, including a high-stick by Morrissey with just under three minutes left to play which led to a Blues six-on-four once they pulled Binnington for an extra skater.<\/p>\n Fortunately for Winnipeg, the much-maligned penalty kill came up big. Although Holloway\u2019s goal came with the man advantage, the Jets stood tall on the next four \u2014 allowing just a single St. Louis shot during those eight combined minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously called upon a bunch and thought it did a good job. We gave the one there in the first but after that came up big, and in some key moments in the game,\u201d Morrissey told CJOB.<\/p>\n The Blues only took one penalty, with the Jets unable to capitalize.<\/p>\n KEY PLAY<\/p>\n The beautiful play between Perfetti and Toews which put the Jets up by a pair and ultimately stood as the game-winner.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Connor Hamilton \/ The Associated Press<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets\u2019 Cole Perfetti, left, skates against St. Louis Blues\u2019 Pavel Buchnevich, right, during the third period.<\/p>\n THREE STARS:<\/p>\n 1. WPG C Mark Scheifele: 2 assists<\/p>\n 2. STL LW Dylan Holloway: 1 goal, 1 assist<\/p>\n 2. WPG D Josh Morrissey: 1 goal<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t EXTRA, EXTRA<\/p>\n This marked the first time in the past 12 games (including playoffs) where the visiting team has won a game in the head-to-head battle between the Jets and Blues.<\/p>\n Winnipeg won three of four meetings this year, with just 15 combined goals in the games (1-0 St. Louis, 3-1 Winnipeg, 3-2 Winnipeg, 3-2 Winnipeg).<\/p>\n Defenceman Ville Heinola was Winnipeg\u2019s lone healthy scratch. Blue-liners Elias Salomonsson and Colin Miller and forwards Morgan Barron and Gus Nyquist remain injured.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Connor Hamilton \/ The Associated Press<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets\u2019 Neal Pionk looks to pass during the first period.<\/p>\n The Jets return to action on Saturday evening when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at Canada Life Centre.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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