The St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets lay it all on the line on Sunday at 6 p.m. (FDSNMW, TBS, MAX, CBC, SN, TVAS, ESPN 101.1-FM) in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round to see who will face the Dallas Stars in the second round.
Each team has held serve on home ice through six games. The Blues are the only one remaining that can be a road team to win, and the Blues would love nothing more than anything to be that one.
"Exciting, a lot of emotions," Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. "It's something you dream of, to get to play in the playoffs, but to be a part of a Game 7, it's a dream come true. I'm very excited for the opportunity and it's going to be a very exciting game.
"Guys are excited, man. I think a lot of people had us written off coming into the series. It's been exciting, we've continued to prove people wrong and that's just been our mindset -- we're in this together, all 25 guys that are here, and we're really excited about the opportunity to continue to prove people wrong."
Blues forward Zack Bolduc added, "We believe in our team, we believe in what we can do, and I think we showed in previous games in this series that we belong against that team. Yeah, we're really confident in what we can do, and we're really excited for tonight."
Get all your Game 7 stat pack notes here.
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The Blues held an optional morning skate on Sunday but practiced in full at Centene Community Ice Center before departing for Winnipeg, and the only line switch was Jordan Kyrou and Jimmy Snuggerud flipping spots.
Blues coach Jim Montgomery wasn't committed to making it something permanent for this game in particular, just something he's done in game previously.
"Just getting a different look," he said. "I flipped them the last two games. I'm not really settled, but they haven't practiced like that, so I just wanted to get a familiarity like that in case i switch to it in games."
For Kyrou, who has just two goals in the series (both on the power play) and no points at even strength, the Blues could use his offense in this game more so than ever.
"He leads our team in 5-on-5 scoring chances as we tracked them, so he's getting his opportunities or he's setting people up (and) the puck hasn't gone into the net," Montgomery said. "I thought last game he skated really well. You could tell he's close to just separating. He's getting a lot of edge rushes, he's making a lot of plays. He skated really well [Friday] night and with his talents, it's just a matter of time."
Mathieu Joseph, who returned to the lineup in Game 6 replacing Alexandre Texier, was on that third line in practice again Saturday, but Montgomery wouldn't comment in which one would play tonight. So we'll leave Joseph in there until pregame warmups.
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From the Jets side, top-line center Mark Scheifele (undisclosed) has been ruled out of the game by coach Scott Arniel.
Scheifele, who was checked twice in the first period of Game 5 by Blues captain Brayden Schenn and later by center Radek Faksa, also missed Game 6.
Defenseman Logan Stanley was called a game-time decision bv Arniel, and from line rushes, Haydn Fleury was skating in Stanley's place.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours-Brayden Schenn-Jimmy Snuggerud
Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker
Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk
Ryan Suter-Nick Leddy
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches could include Alexandre Texier and Matthew Kessel. Dylan Holloway (lower body) and Tyler Tucker (lower body) are out.
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Jets Projected Lineup:
Kyle Connor-Vladislav Namestnikov-Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers-Adam Lowry-Cole Perfetti
Nino Niederreiter-Morgan Barron-Mason Appleton
Brandon Tanev-Dominic Toninato-Alex Iafallo
Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg-Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury-Luke Schenn
Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal; Eric Comrie will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include David Gustafsson, Colin Miller, Ville Heinola, Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Chris Driedger. Mark Scheifele (undisclosed) and Rasmus Kupari (concussion) are out.