Game Information
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets - Game 7 of Western Conference quarterfinals (series tied 3-3)
Time: 6pm CT Sunday
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, TBS, MAX
DraftKings Game 7 Odds
Moneyline: Jets -155, Blues +130
Total: 5.5 (over +140, under -166)
Blues And Jets: Winner Take All
They are the two best words in sports.
Game Seven.
The St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets battle it out one final time on Sunday night at Canada Life Centre, with the winner advancing to the Western Conference semifinals.
The storyline being talked about by everyone in the hockey world heading into this game is the battle of the two goaltenders: Jordan Binnington vs Connor Hellebuyck.
Binnington Loves The Spotlight
The Blues have emerged victorious in each of their last four Game 7’s as a franchise, with the last two being won by Binnington.
Here are Binnington’s stats from the three winner-take-all games he has played:
2019 Game 7 vs Dallas - 1 goal allowed on 30 shots
2019 Game 7 at Boston - 1 goal allowed on 33 shots (and 1 Stanley Cup lifted)
2025 4 Nations Face-Off vs USA - 2 goals allowed on 33 shots (and 1 trophy lifted)
That is a perfect 3-0 record with just 4 goals allowed on 96 shots for a .958 save percentage.
Hellebuyck A Major Question Mark
Hellebuyck can take solace in the fact that he won his only other prior Game 7. He stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 5-1 Jets win over Nashville in the second round in 2018.
But in his most recent winner-take-all game, Hellebuyck was defeated by Binnington in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off just over a couple months ago. Hellebuyck allowed 3 goals on 27 shots for an .889 save percentage in that game.
For this series against the Blues, Hellebuyck has a hideous 4.42 goals against average and an .815 save percentage.
My Pick
I think if the Blues lose this game, the reason won’t be Binnington. It’ll be because they didn’t generate enough shots on Hellebuyck similar to what we saw in Game 5. Hellebuyck allowed 3 goals in that game, but a key reason the Blues lost is because they only registered 19 shots.
The key stat I’m looking for in Game 7 is 25 shots. If the Blues reach that number, I think they win and advance.
The Blues have faced Winnipeg ten times this season. In their four wins, they have averaged 27.7 shots per game. But in the six losses, that number drops to 21.0 shots per game. If the Blues get to 25 shots, I think that’s enough pressure applied to Hellebuyck where he will fold.
But at the end of the day, I have no hesitation about my pick for Game 7.
If the fate of the world was at stake and I had to pick one current goaltender to win one game, my choice would be Binnington.
Hellebuyck has now given up at least 3 goals in 14 of his last 15 playoff games - and I think it happens again here.
I’m taking the Blues to win Game 7… and I think they break Hellebuyck for good. Home ice advantage won’t save him here.
I’m willing to throw a dart on the Blues to win by margin at a big plus money price - I’m thinking 4-1 or 4-2.
Let’s get a series win… and let’s cash!
Pick: Blues -1.5 at +310 on DraftKings (bet to +250)
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Friday on the Sports Hub STL YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Picks = betting the game - minus odds betting to win 1 unit, plus odds risking 1 unit. Leans = no strong opinion, not betting the game. Disclaimer