The Presidents` Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets face off against the St. Louis Blues in a decisive Game 7 at Canada Life Centre on Sunday. The winner of this first-round series will advance to play the Dallas Stars in the second round. The home team has remarkably claimed victory in all six games of the series, with the Blues forcing the final contest by winning Game 6 5-2 at Enterprise Center on Friday.
In Game 6, Alexey Toropchenko and defenseman Philip Broberg each contributed a goal and an assist. This performance helped the Blues chase Winnipeg`s Vezina Trophy finalist, Connor Hellebuyck, from the net for the third time in the series. Hellebuyck, who won the Vezina last season, has struggled on the road, giving up at least five goals in each of the three contests in St. Louis, while allowing a combined total of only seven goals across the three games played in Winnipeg.
Historically, the Blues hold a 5-6 record in Game 7 situations but are currently on a four-game winning streak in such contests, dating back to their series against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2016 postseason. Winnipeg, playing without the injured Mark Scheifele (undisclosed) for the second straight game, has only played one previous Game 7 in franchise history, securing a 5-1 road victory against the Nashville Predators in the second round of 2018.
Here are some players offering value to consider for prop bets in Sunday`s crucial Game 7.
Best Bets
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets – Anytime Goal Scorer (+155)
Kyle Connor, who led the Jets with 41 goals in the regular season – his second time reaching the 40-goal mark – has continued to be a significant offensive threat in the playoffs. The 28-year-old left winger has found the back of the net in four of the first six games of this series and is currently tied for sixth in goals this NHL postseason. Extending back to last year`s first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, Connor has scored in five of his last seven playoff appearances.
Pavel Buchnevich, St. Louis Blues – 1+ Assist (+168)
After contributing offensively in the first four games of the series, Pavel Buchnevich has been held off the scoresheet in the last two contests. The 30-year-old Russian left winger not only recorded his first career postseason hat-trick in Game 3 but also began these playoffs with a four-game assist streak. Looking back to last season, Buchnevich had registered at least one assist in eight out of nine playoff games before his current drought. It would not be unexpected to see him register an assist in Sunday`s deciding game.
Cam Fowler, St. Louis Blues – 1+ Assist (+142)
Veteran defenseman Cam Fowler entered this series with 27 assists in 62 career playoff games. Against Winnipeg, the 33-year-old has been a playmaking machine, recording eight assists over the first six games, leaving him just one behind Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid for the postseason lead in assists. Fowler recorded at least one assist in the first five games of the series, notably in all three games played at Canada Life Centre, and has accumulated an impressive 15 assists over his last 19 playoff appearances.
