Winnipeg Jets Crush St. Louis Blues in the First Round

Jets vs. Blues Playoff Preview

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are here, and we’ve got a heavyweight clash in Round 1 of the Western Conference as the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets take on the red-hot St. Louis Blues.

Winnipeg earned the Presidents’ Trophy with a stellar 55-22-4 record, while the Blues surged late to lock up the final wild card spot at 44-30-8. These teams last met in the 2019 postseason — a series St. Louis won in six before hoisting the Cup. But this year? The Jets are on a mission to rewrite history.

Why Winnipeg Will Win

Let’s start with the basics: The Jets were the best regular-season team in the NHL. They racked up 55 wins and were nearly unstoppable at home, posting a 29-7-4 record in front of their fans.

They’ve got serious star power up front with Kyle Connor (96 points), Mark Scheifele (86), and breakout youngster Cole Perfetti. Even with injuries to Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi, Winnipeg’s forward depth is a serious threat.

The real difference-maker? Connor Hellebuyck. The Vezina front-runner leads the NHL in wins (46), save percentage (.924), and shutouts (8). If Hellebuyck locks in, Winnipeg becomes a nightmare matchup for anyone in the West.

The Jets know what’s at stake. They’ve been bounced in the first round two years in a row. This core has everything to prove, and this looks like the year they finally push through.

Why St. Louis Could Pull the Upset

Don’t sleep on the Blues. At one point they were 25-26-6 and dead in the water. But over the final two months, they caught fire, going 19-4-2 and playing desperate, playoff-caliber hockey every night.

Jordan Binnington will be the X-factor in net. He didn’t play in their last loss to the Jets (Joel Hofer started that game), and he’s been sharp lately — with a 2.23 GAA since returning from the 4 Nations break and a gold medal under his belt. He’s done it before, and he can steal games when he’s dialed in.

The Blues also bring some scoring punch, led by Robert Thomas (81 points) and Jordan Kyrou (36 goals), with rookie Dylan Holloway adding some spark. If Binnington can hold his ground, and the offense cashes in on its chances, St. Louis could push this series deep.

Regular Season Edge: Winnipeg

The Jets won three out of four regular season meetings, including both games in St. Louis. They consistently outplayed the Blues with better puck possession, deeper forward lines, and, of course, superior goaltending.

Series Prediction

This won’t be easy. St. Louis is battle-tested, red-hot, and has nothing to lose. But Winnipeg is just too deep, too good, and too ready to fail in Round 1 again. The Blues will make it a grind — but in the end, Hellebuyck will be the difference, and the Jets will advance.

Final Prediction: Winnipeg Jets win in 5 games

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