As many, including myself, expected this series to wrap up in five or six games, that hasn’t been the case. Here we are — Game 7. One team advances, the other starts their summer early.

This series has been defined by home-ice dominance. Each of the first six games has been won by the home team. The Winnipeg Jets, hosting their first-ever Game 7 in franchise history, are hoping that trend holds true once again tonight.

While it’s true that previous games hold no weight in a one-game elimination, it’s impossible to ignore what’s transpired. The St. Louis Blues hammered the Jets in three straight games at Enterprise Center, outscoring Winnipeg 17–5 and forcing Connor Hellebuyck to the bench in all three.

“Tonight was not about Connor. We imploded, right in front of him,” Jets head coach Scott Arniel said following Game 6.

You can argue that Hellebuyck hasn’t had the same level of support in the playoffs as he did during the regular season. But at some point, your Vezina-calibre goaltender needs to come up with a save — especially when it matters most. There’s no better time than tonight for both Hellebuyck and the Jets to silence the doubters.

“It’s a one-game showdown. That’s what it is. Our whole group. Not just Connor (Hellebuyck),” Arniel reiterated.

Tonight marks a historic moment for Winnipeg. It’s the first Game 7 ever played on home ice for the modern Jets. In 2018, they won their only Game 7 in franchise history on the road, defeating the Nashville Predators 5–1 to advance to the Western Conference Final. The original Jets franchise also played multiple Game 7s in the ’90s — all away from home — but never managed to secure a win in those contests, which often came against powerhouses from western Canada.

There was a surprise addition to the lineup in Game 6: Nikolaj Ehlers. Initially ruled out, he played 16 minutes and registered three shots on goal. His best look came on a two-on-one when the game was tied 1–1, but Jordan Binnington denied him twice.

As for Mark Scheifele, who missed Game 6 due to an undisclosed injury, he will not play tonight.

Connor – Namestnikov – Vilardi

Ehlers – Lowry – Perfetti

Niederreiter – Barron – Appleton

Tanev – Toninato – Iafallo

Morrissey – DeMelo

Samberg – Pionk

Fleury – Schenn

Hellebuyck

Comrie

Buchnevich – Thomas – Kyrou

Neighbours – Schenn – Snuggerud

Joseph – Sundqvist – Bolduc

Toropchenko – Faksa – Walker

Fowler – Parayko

Broberg – Faulk

Suter – Leddy

Binnington

Hofer