Jake Neighbours scored his first playoff goal and added two assists as the St. Louis Blues defeated the visiting Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on Sunday to tie their Western Conference first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Winnipeg.
Captain Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist while Robert Thomas and defensemen Tyler Tucker and Justin Faulk also scored for the Blues. Defenseman Colton Parayko had two assists and Jordan Binnington stopped 30 shots.
“Playoffs are full of momentum swings,” Schenn said. “We’re happy with where we’re at right now.”
Kyle Connor netted the goal for the Jets.
Connor Hellebuyck made 13 saves on 18 shots before being pulled early in the third period. It is the second consecutive game that Hellebuyck has been removed; he has allowed 11 goals on 43 shots in the last two contests. Hellebuyck has won two Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s top goalie and is the favorite to win his third this season.
He was replaced by Eric Comrie, who stopped six shots.
“Tired of watching them make nice plays and put the puck in the net,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “That’s on us.”
St. Louis scored three goals in the second period to take a 4-1 lead.
Tucker’s one-time slap shot from the right point broke a 1-1 tie with 9:14 left in the middle period. The Blues then scored twice in a span of 1:31 late in the period.
Schenn made it 3-1 when he put in a loose puck from the crease, and then Faulk’s one-time slapper from the middle point went in off Winnipeg defenseman Neal Pionk with 1:06 to go in the second period.
Thomas made it 5-1 2:01 into the second period to send Hellebuyck to the showers.
Connor gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead with 6:02 left in the first period. From the bottom of the left circle, he backhanded in the rebound of a shot off the post by Cole Perfetti. It was Connor’s third goal of the playoffs.
Neighbours tied the game with 23 seconds remaining in the first when he tipped in Parayko’s high shot with the shaft of his stick.
Tucker was helped off the ice with 4:17 to play. His knee appeared to give out.
–Field Level Media
