Even with the series tied 2-2, tonight feels like a must-win for the Winnipeg Jets. After heading to St. Louis with a 2-0 series lead, they return home with the series knotted and a lopsided 11-3 scoring deficit from Games 3 and 4 — not exactly the momentum they were hoping for.

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg’s Vezina Trophy finalist for a third straight season, is arguably the most critical player who needs to dial up the urgency.

“I am going to be better,” Hellebuyck told reporters on Monday. “I know what to do and how to get my best game, so that’s what I’m looking forward to do.”

Hellebuyck allowed six goals in Game 3 and five in Game 4, bringing his postseason totals to a 2-2 record, a concerning 4.24 goals-against average, and a .817 save percentage. Those numbers are a far cry from his dominant regular-season stats — 47 wins in 63 games, league-best 2.00 GAA, and eight shutouts.

No matter how you spin it, those numbers are ugly. But goaltending isn’t the only problem — this is a team-wide issue.

Winnipeg has failed to control the high-danger areas of the defensive zone. Blues defenders have had all day at the blue line, and Jets defenders aren’t boxing out or clearing the netfront. As a result, Hellebuyck often can’t see the puck through the traffic. It’s eerily similar to what we saw in last year’s playoff series against Colorado, when Cale Makar and Devon Toews repeatedly fired through layers of bodies screening the crease.

The truth is, if Hellebuyck sees the puck, he usually stops it. Right now, that’s not happening — and it’s why the Jets have struggled to contain St. Louis offensively.

Still, Hellebuyck remains confident in the group.

“At the end of the day, we’re in a good spot,” he said. “It’s a best of three, I like our odds, and we’ve got home-ice advantage — that’s where our mindset is moving forward.”

The Jets will get a big boost in Game 5 with the return of forward Gabriel Vilardi. After missing over a month with an upper-body injury suffered March 23 against Buffalo, he’s ready to jump back in.

Vilardi posted career highs with 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games this season. Though he knows it won’t be easy jumping into playoff hockey cold, he’s embracing the challenge.

“It’s going to be an adjustment and I’ve got to be prepared for that right away,” Vilardi said.

Head coach Scott Arniel isn’t planning to ease Vilardi in.

“It’s green light now — there’s no holding back,” Arniel said. “This is playoff hockey. It’s going to be a heck of a lot faster than when he left us.”

Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi

Iafallo – Namestnikov – Perfetti

Niederreiter – Lowry – Appleton

Tanev – Barron – Anderson-Dolan

Morrissey – DeMelo

Samberg – Pionk

Stanley – Schenn

Hellebuyck

Comrie

Buchnevich – Thomas – Snuggerud

Neighbours – Schenn – Kyrou

Texier – Sundqvist – Bolduc

Toropchenko – Faksa – Walker

Fowler – Parayko

Broberg – Faulk

Suter – Leddy

Binnington

Hofer