So, like, the big game is finally here, you guys! The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets are gonna face off against the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s gonna be the 200th Game 7 in the history of the Stanley Cup, and it’s all going down on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on TBS.
One team is gonna move on to the next round, while the other is gonna have to pack up and head home early, thinking about what went wrong. The Blues have been in Game 7 situations 19 times, which is the most for any non-Original Six team. They’ve won 10 out of 18 Game 7s in the past, with their most recent one being the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, which they totally dominated with a 4-1 win.
On the other hand, the Jets don’t have as much Game 7 experience. They’ve only been in one Game 7 before, which was a second-round victory over the Nashville Predators in 2018. So, who’s gonna come out on top this time? We got the ESPN hockey crew to give us the lowdown on the key players to watch in this epic showdown, along with their predictions for the final score.
First up, we got NHL reporter Ryan S. Clark, who’s keeping his eye on Mark Scheifele. This dude took a nasty hit in Game 5, and everyone’s been talking about it. If he’s in the lineup, he’s gonna be a game-changer for sure. But if not, the Jets are gonna need everyone to step up. Scheifele’s status is still up in the air, so we’ll have to wait and see.
NHL broadcaster Arda Öcal is all about Connor Hellebuyck. This guy has been on fire at home but kinda struggles on the road. He needs to bring his A-game for this Game 7, especially with all the pressure on him. Let’s see which version of Hellebuyck shows up on Sunday night.
And then we have NHL reporter Kristen Shilton, who’s also banking on Hellebuyck to deliver. This guy is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, playing like a beast at home but looking lost on the road. Which Hellebuyck will we see in Game 7? Also, keep an eye on Pavel Buchnevich from the Blues. He’s been a driving force for their offense, and they’re gonna need him to step up big time.
Lastly, NHL reporter Greg Wyshynski is all about Jordan Binnington from the Blues. This dude knows how to handle the pressure in big games, and he’s got the stats to prove it. Binnington needs to show up big time if the Blues wanna pull off a road win in this crucial Game 7.
As for the final score predictions, Clark is calling it 4-3 in favor of the Jets. Öcal is going for a high-scoring 6-5 victory for the Jets, with Connor sealing the deal with a late goal. Shilton is predicting a close 5-4 win for the Jets, citing their strong home ice advantage. And Wyshynski is going with a 5-3 victory for the Jets, believing that Hellebuyck will step up and the offense will deliver, especially with Ehlers back in action.
So there you have it, folks. The stage is set for an epic Game 7 showdown between the Jets and the Blues. Get ready for some heart-pounding action on Sunday night!
