Jets complete comeback in Game 7 double-OT stunner vs. Blues
The Winnipeg Jets completed a showstopping comeback during Sunday's 4-3 double-overtime victory against the St. Louis Blues in an instant-classic Game 7.
Captain Adam Lowry scored the winner to book Winnipeg's second-round matchup against the Dallas Stars.
Though it wasn't the prettiest goal, it was still a moment the longtime Jet has been thinking of for some time.
"It's incredibly special," Lowry said. "I probably dreamt that it was a little nicer than just going off my leg, but it's one of those things - on the outdoor rink, in the driveway - you dream about being the hero in a Game 7, giving yourself a chance to continue chasing the Stanley Cup.
"To do it in Winnipeg at home, we have such tremendous fans, such tremendous support. Just really happy that we can continue playing in front of them."
Jets forward Cole Perfetti forced overtime in the dying seconds of regulation as the Presidents' Trophy winners avoided the first-round upset.
"There wasn't one point where I don't think guys believed in here," sniper Kyle Connor said. "We just kept playing, kept fighting."
He added, "It's euphoric, it's emotional, it's motivating."
Perfetti's tally was the latest game-tying goal in Game 7 history, while Lowry scored the third-latest Game 7 goal ever, according to Sportsnet Stats.
"Just so much fight," goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said. "Every single guy brought their game. Top to bottom (of the) lineup, our details are awesome, and we fought right to the end."
He added, "The guys gave it their all. You could see it every second out there."
Winnipeg pulled the victory off without star forward Mark Scheifele, who suffered an injury in Game 5, and top defenseman Josh Morrissey, who exited early in the first period on Sunday.
Rearguards Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk both saw their ice time eclipse 40 minutes (44:00 and 46:15, respectively) with the Jets down to five blue-liners for most of the contest.
Hellebuyck rebounded from a shaky start and stopped all 13 shots faced in the third period and two overtime frames to help secure the victory.
"This is our series," he said when asked what went through his mind when Perfetti tied it. "It's time to lock it down, try to make a difference. Don't give them many looks, don't get beat clean, just let our guys roll the way they're rolling."
The Blues were off to a roaring start as Jordan Kyrou opened the scoring just 70 seconds in, and Mathieu Joseph doubled the lead from distance just over six minutes later.
Perfetti got Winnipeg on the board in the second period with his first goal of the game, but St. Louis forward Radek Faksa potted what appeared to be the backbreaker with less than one minute remaining in the frame.
Vladislav Namestnikov got Winnipeg's comeback rolling with 1:56 remaining in the third period.
"Our mantra from training camp - get better every day, focus on the process and the results will take care of themselves," Lowry said. "Just really proud of the guys. You get down 2-0, Game 7, it kind of feels like it's an insurmountable lead. ... Wild game, but that's our group.
"There's not a lot of quit in here."
The Jets are the fifth team to rally from a multi-goal deficit in the third period of a Game 7 and the first since the Stars stunned the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, according to Sportsnet Stats.
The series win is Winnipeg's first since 2021, when it swept the Edmonton Oilers out of the opening round before being eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in four games.
Hellebuyck has struggled in the postseason since then, but he came out on the right side of things Sunday.
"I don't think it's any secret that this whole series has been a mental grind," he said. "Ups and downs. It takes a team to win. We've been doing it all year, continue to build. I'm looking forward to the next one."