Last season, the Blues had a playoff spot sewn up, but they lost games at the wrong time, including blowing a 3-1 lead against the Blackhawks. Their season ended when they were defeated in a do-or-die game by the Avalanche, and that loss was used to motivate them during this current midseason. St. Louis had the league's worst record by the holidays, but the team went on a winning tear thanks--mostly--to rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington. Their opponents, the Winnipeg Jets, had a very historic campaign last season, finally winning a playoff game and series in their franchise history and going all the way to the Western Conference Final. The Jets have a loaded lineup consisting of Mark Schiefele, Blake Wheeler, scoring sensation Patrik Laine, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, while St. Louis has Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O'Reilly, Alex Pietrangelo, and the aforementioned Binnington. I think this will be the closest of the eight series; I sense a lot of OT in this thing. However, I see Winnipeg winning this, they are completely legit following what was their best season ever.
Prediction: Jets in seven
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