From TSN1290Radio's Paul Edmonds (UtilityVoice): Jets, Blues prepare for epic playoff battle. WATCH:
The Blues scored 25 fewer goals than Winnipeg this season with Russian sniper were the only other players to amass over 20 goals this season for St. Louis. For what’s it worth, the Jets won the season series between the two teams 3-1 and outscored the Blues 18-10, including 8-4 in St. Louis on Nov. 24 when Laine scored five times. In the last 14 games between the two teams the Jets have won 11 times.The Jets’ power play finished fourth in the league at a 24.8 per cent conversion rate.
The Blues’ power play was top 10 this season, finishing at 21.1 per cent. Their power-play units scored 12 fewer goals than Winnipeg on 13 fewer chances. Tarasenko led St. Louis with 12 PPG, but after that there was a sharp drop off behind him with Perron and O’Reilly next in order. For what it’s worth both teams allowed seven short-handed goals against this season,
On the penalty kill, the Blues were stingy, finishing at 81.5 per cent and were shorthanded 18 fewer times than Winnipeg. The Jets were at 79.2 per cent . Winnipeg did produce 10 short-handed goals while the Blues managed just five. Based on the old theory about a better penalty kill trumping a solid power play in the playoffs, the edge here belongs to St. Louis.Experience in goal is crucial at this time of year.
As such, the Jets should be well prepared in this department for whatever comes their way in the series, especially based on the team advancing to the Western Conference final last season and the adversity they faced down the stretch of the regular season. Now, there will be a lot of chatter about Binnington’s play since his call-up from San Antonio before Christmas and how he backstopped the Blues’ turnaround – and rightly so.
Sure, Binnington’s numbers were better than Hellebuyck’s in half the outings, but the experience Hellebuyck possesses over the rookie 25-year-old Binnington should provide Winnipeg with an important edge. Hellebuyck’s playoff past performance sheet is decent too, with a 9-8 record, 2.36 GAA and .922 SV% and nearly 200 more games in NHL service time than his counterpart for St. Louis.
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