OVERVIEW
Enterprise Center hosted its first Stanley Cup Playoffs game in three years on Thursday, and the St. Louis Blues put on quite the show in front of the home crowd.
Looking to rebound after dropping the series' opening two games on the road, the Blues (1-2) routed the Winnipeg Jets (2-1) in Game 3 for their first win of the 2025 postseason. The 7-2 victory was the team's 13th consecutive win on home ice dating back to Feb. 23.
"What I liked was the fierce, competitive nature in our attitude for 60 minutes," said Head Coach Jim Montgomery. "The start was incredible. We were aggressive. We did the things we wanted to do to make sure that we were going to get more scoring chances, and we did get more scoring chances."
The charge was led by standout performances from forward Pavel Buchnevich and defenseman Cam Fowler.
Buchnevich got the scoring started early with back-to-back goals 48 seconds and 3:11 into the game. It was the seventh-fastest two goals from the start of a playoff game in NHL history, and fastest in Blues history. He completed the hat trick in the third period and ended the game with four points.
Fowler collected a goal and four assists in the game, setting a franchise record. He is the first Blues defenseman and only the eighth defenseman in NHL history to record five or more points in a playoff game.
It was an important victory for the Blues, but following the game both players and coaches were looking ahead and focusing on the work still to be done.
"It's a win. It got us back in the series," Montgomery said. "We've got to move on to the next game. That's the important thing is what are we going to do now. What's next?"
What's next is a pivotal Game 4 on Sunday in St. Louis. And the team knows the stakes. Win and the series is even, becoming a best-of-3. Lose and the Blues are on the brink of elimination heading back to Winnipeg.
"We've had our backs against the wall for the last quarter of the season, I'd say," said goaltender Jordan Binnington. "It's a place where we're comfortable being and we control our emotions and we just take it one day at a time."
