WINNIPEG - 聽Head coach Scott Arniel keeps the Winnipeg Jets鈥 Game 2 playoff struggles in the past, but fans hold memories that still sting.
The Jets host the St. Louis Blues on Monday night up 1-0 in their best-of-seven, opening-round NHL playoff series. A victory would overcome a recent curse of sorts.
Winnipeg began with a win in its past two playoff series, but lost the next four games to be eliminated from the postseason.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 talk about that, the last two playoff years because this is a different animal, a different year,鈥 Arniel said after Winnipeg鈥檚 optional skate Sunday. 鈥淏ut we have talked about all season long the next game 鈥
鈥淲e鈥檝e done a real good job this year of focusing on what鈥檚 coming next, and that next game (Monday) is what we鈥檙e zooming in on.鈥
Fans will likely be holding their breaths inside and outside Canada Life Centre.
Last year against the Colorado Avalanche, the Jets won the first game at home 7-6, then lost the next four by scores of 5-2, 6-2, 5-1 and 6-3.
The season before, it was a 5-1 opening victory in Vegas against the Golden Knights, followed by losses of 5-2, 5-4, 4-2 and 4-1.
The Western Conference champions had to fight for a 5-3 comeback victory against the Blues on Saturday night.
The game was tied 2-2 after the first period before St. Louis went ahead 1:13 into the second on Jordan Kyrou's goal.
Alex Iafallo tied it at 9:18 of the third before Kyle Connor made it 4-3 with 1:36 remaining. Captain Adam Lowry sealed the 5-3 win with an empty-net goal and 53 seconds left on the clock.
Veteran defenceman Dylan Samberg is hoping that determined effort carries over into Monday鈥檚 game.
鈥淛ust focus on ourselves, focus on that first period and try and get off to a good start,鈥 Samberg said.
The Jets racked up plenty of wins this season en route to claiming their first Presidents鈥 Trophy for having the league鈥檚 best regular-season record (56-22-4).
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big comeback win,鈥 Iafallo said of the opening victory. 鈥淥ur resiliency, we talked about it all year, but we have to clean that slate off and be ready for (Monday).鈥
Steps forward
Top-line winger Gabriel Vilardi joined his Jets teammates for the optional skate, although he was wearing a yellow non-contact jersey. Vilardi began skating on his own last week as he recovers from an upper-body injury suffered March 23. He鈥檚 missed the past 12 games and is still listed day-to-day with no timeline for his return to action.
鈥(When) I see that jersey change colour, then we will start talking about it,鈥 Arniel said.
Forward Rasmus Kapari (concussion) was back on the ice in a regular jersey.
鈥淗e has missed some hockey, missed some ice and he鈥檚 missed some practices,鈥 Arniel said. 鈥淪o we need to get him up and running here, get him some conditioning.鈥
Kapari only played one game in the middle of Winnipeg鈥檚 final 20 regular-season games because of lingering symptoms.
Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers remains week-to-week with an lower-body injury.
Late celebration
Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan recorded his first goal in five career playoff games Saturday, but the Calgary product didn鈥檛 get to feel the full effect of the milestone.
He and Jets forward Morgan Barron had the puck deflect off both of their sticks, but Barron was initially credited for the goal that gave Winnipeg a first-period 2-1 lead with five minutes left in the frame.
It was announced as Anderson-Dolan's goal after the intermission.
鈥淭he fans got a double celebration there. They got their money鈥檚 worth,鈥 said Anderson-Dolan, who got into four playoff games with the Kings in 2022-23. 鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 a pretty funny moment.鈥
The forward played 51 games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose this season, but suited up in seven regular-season games with the Jets. He joined the Kings in 2018-19 and appeared in one game with the Nashville Predators last season.
This report by 好色tvwas first published April 20, 2025.
