Head coach Scott Arniel keeps the Winnipeg Jets’ 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.
“I don’t talk about that, the last two playoff years because this is a different animal, a different year,” Arniel said after Winnipeg’s optional skate Sunday. “But we have talked about all season long the next game.”
“We’ve done a real good job this year of focusing on what’s coming next, and that next game [Monday] is what we’re zooming in on.”
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’s game.
“Just focus on ourselves, focus on that first period and try and get off to a good start,” Samberg said.
The Jets racked up plenty of wins this season en route to claiming their first Presidents’ Trophy for having the league’s best regular-season record (56-22-4).
“It’s a big comeback win,” Iafallo said of the opening victory. “Our resiliency, we talked about it all year, but we have to clean that slate off and be ready for (Monday).”
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’s missed the past 12 games and is still listed day-to-day with no timeline for his return to action.
“[When] I see that jersey change colour, then we will start talking about it,” Arniel said.
Forward Rasmus Kapari [concussion] was back on the ice in a regular jersey
“He has missed some hockey, missed some ice and he’s missed some practices,” Arniel said. “So we need to get him up and running here, get him some conditioning.”
Kapari only played one game in the middle of Winnipeg’s final 20 regular-season games because of lingering symptoms.
Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers remains week-to-week with an lower-body injury.
Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan recorded his first goal in five career playoff games Saturday, but the Calgary product didn’t 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.
“The fans got a double celebration there. They got their money’s worth,” said Anderson-Dolan, who got into four playoff games with the Kings in 2022-23. “Yeah, it’s a pretty funny moment.”
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.
