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NHL postseason series, like any sport with playoffs, are ultimately all about small sample sizes. Whoever does best over a span of games ranging from four to seven comes out on top.

So far, the Winnipeg Jets’ top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Alex Iafallo have been doing a number on the Blues. Connor has the game-winning goal in both games, Scheifele has two goals and three assists, and Iafallo had the game-tying goal in Game 1. For the Blues to get back in this series, which they trail 2-0 after losing 2-1 in Winnipeg on Monday night, they’ll have to slow down that group. Their next chance comes in Game 3 on Thursday at Enterprise Center.

“They just play well together,� said Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, who with partner Cam Fowler has often drawn that assignment. “They’re dangerous from all areas; they can score from all over the offensive zone. They’ve played together all year and know where each other are. They’re just dangerous players whenever they get the puck.�

“Yeah, I'd say they're just poised,� said forward Jimmy Snuggerud, who along with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich went up against the group the most. “That's kind of how the NHL’s turned to, like, the corner plays. I feel like Connor does it really well. He's very poised in the corners, and (Nathan) MacKinnon and (Connor) McDavid also do it really well and they make plays well. So you have to have your stick in seams throughout the whole game whenever they're on the ice. They're good at what they do so it's tough, but you got to do it.�

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ were that way in the regular season, when Connor scored 41 goals and Scheifele scored 39, which tied for the third-highest scoring tandem in the league. Iafallo is a more recent addition to the line after Gabriel Villardi got hurt.

Meanwhile, at five on five, the Blues have just one goal in the first two games (from 29 even-strength shots on goal), coming from Oskar Sundqvist and his line. The team’s top two lines have been shut out at even strength. Also, the Blues aren’t getting many shots from in front of the net, with most of their shots coming from the circles or the blue line.

One thing that will change with the return to St. Louis is the Blues having control of the matchups with the last line change. That may well be more important than any energy the team gets from its fan base, which will be looking forward to its first home playoff game since 2022.

“Now our job, we come home,� Schenn said, “we have the matchup and whatever (head coach Jim Montgomery) wants. We know they’re good players. They’ve had good seasons. Just keep being hard on them, in your face, and try and make them play in their own end. So far, they’ve capitalized on their chances.�

“Well, we're going to have the last line change now,� Montgomery said. “We're going to go home, we're going to be in front of our frenzied crowd and we're going have an opportunity to hold serve at home. We got to get to Game 3.�

Another decisive factor has been the third period. The Blues have won the first two periods in Games 1 and 2 4-3 but have been outscored 4-0 in the third period (with one of the goals an empty-netter). In the regular season, the Blues were 41-5-3 when leading or tied after two periods; in the playoffs, they are 0-2. The Blues were also tied with Winnipeg going into the third period of their last regular-season meeting and lost 3-1. In those last three third periods against Winnipeg, the Blues have 11 shots on goal, out of 41 shot attempts overall.

“Obviously they’re getting a couple of extra goals in the third,� Parayko said. “I don’t know. Other than that, just continue to make sure we push as a group all three periods. That’s the biggest thing, putting together 60 full ones. Obviously, the playoffs are super-tight, especially these Central Division games. Right from the regular season they’re all tight, the playoffs are even tighter. So one mistake could cost you a game.�

“Patient,� said Schenn. “They’re patient. It’s close. They’ve capitalized on their chances in the third period, and we haven’t. That’s where we’re at right now. We feel like we’re right there with them. We’re playing hard, it’s a tough place to play and we’re right there. We feel it’s our job to go home and just worry about the next game.�

Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said his team wasn’t doing anything different in the third period.

“Obviously, Game 1 we were slow to get out of the gate,� he said. “Last night, we were probably ... the first six minutes before that timeout, they got some rush chances. We didn't give up much after that; all the way through the second was pretty good. They got a few on the PK but ... that's kind of our game. Maybe it goes up a notch because of (it being) the third period and the games are tight. That's the one thing about St. Louis, these games have been tight every time. Maybe a little more detailed when it comes to it, you could probably say that for a lot of teams. In the third period, you're really kind of paying attention to your details."

“You just try to continue to get better as the game goes on,� said Winnipeg defenseman Luke Schenn. "Obviously, we are getting some timely goals from some really elite players. It’s far from over. Two games, we’re going to enjoy this one tonight, but St. Louis is an extremely tough building to play in too. It’s going to be a great atmosphere, and we’re going to have to prepare for the next one.�