Pair of Jets power-play goals doom Blues in 3-1 loss to Jets

Matthew DeFranks, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Jan 20, 2026

Published in Hockey

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History took a backseat on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

A 3-1 loss to the Jets was the Blues' first game back in Winnipeg since a Game 7 loss last spring, but the present circumstances of the two clubs were more relevant than a grudge match. And right now, the loss just meant another defeat for this year's Blues.

Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele's power-play goals were enough for the Jets to outlast the Blues on Tuesday night despite Jordan Kyrou's goal in the second period. Scheifele later added an empty-net goal with 2:23 left in the third.

Joel Hofer made 13 saves against his hometown team.

The Blues and Jets entered Tuesday as two of the three worst teams in the NHL, and only 11 Blues who played Tuesday night also played in Game 7.

The Blues finish a three-game trip on Friday against the Stars in Dallas.

Killing them

For the second time in the last three games, the Blues penalty kill allowed multiple goals, as the Jets scored twice on the man-advantage in the first period.

Morrissey and Scheifele each scored on Nathan Walker's double-minor for high-sticking Isaak Phillips, their two goals coming 1:33 apart.

Morrissey's point shot at 9:52 of the first period found the back of the net as Hofer tried to see around Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker at the net front. Tucker was busy boxing out Gabriel Vilardi.

Scheifele gave the Jets a 2-0 lead at 11:25 of the first when he went short side on Hofer from the side of the net. Scheifele had tons of space below the dot after Morrissey won a loose puck from Justin Faulk on the half wall.

The Blues' penalty kill entered Tuesday as the 28th-ranked unit in the NHL, but the 31st-ranked unit since Dec. 18 at 70.7%. Tampa Bay scored twice against the Blues at home on Friday.

St. Louis' PK has been picked apart by injuries recently, with Robert Thomas (lower-body), Pius Suter (right ankle) and Oskar Sundqvist (skate cut above ankle) all regular penalty killers. On this occasion, Walker was in the box. That left Robby Fabbri to log his first meaningful short-handed time on ice of the season.

Droughts finished

Kyrou's power-play goal with 2:37 remaining in the second period ended a pair of goalless streaks.

First, it was St. Louis' first goal since Nick Bjugstad's late in the first period against Tampa Bay on Friday night (not including shootout goals). With Sunday's shutout in Edmonton, the Blues went 2:24:50 without a goal before Kyrou's goal.

Second, it was Kyrou's first goal since Dec. 1 against Anaheim as he had a 13-game goal drought that enveloped a 10-game absence due to a lower-body injury. It was only Kyrou's ninth goal of the season, and came on a one-timer from the circle.

Cam Fowler and Bjugstad had the two other best Blues chances, as Fowler's shot on goal in the first period was swept off the goal line by Nino Niederreiter. Bjugstad hit the post in the second period.

Hofer made two big saves of his own in the second period on Dylan Samberg (short-handed) and Tanner Pearson (late in the period).

Middle man

For the first time since Jim Montgomery took over as Blues coach in Nov. 2024, Pavel Buchnevich played center on Tuesday night in Winnipeg. Buchnevich had played exclusively wing for Montgomery after beginning the 2024-25 season as a center under Drew Bannister.

Buchnevich was forced to the middle as the Blues deal with a rash of injuries at center. Thomas, Suter and Sundqvist all missed Tuesday's game in Winnipeg, leaving Brayden Schenn, Dalibor Dvorsky and Nick Bjugstad as the club's only natural centers.

Buchnevich was between Jake Neighbours and Kyrou, and won three of his first five faceoffs.

Sundqvist was hurt Sunday in Edmonton, and Dylan Holloway did not play in Winnipeg as the Blues ease him back into the lineup from his high-ankle sprain. That meant Fabbri and Jonatan Berggren re-entered the lineup for the Blues.

Montgomery said the Blues plan on alternating goalies in the remaining games before the Olympic break, meaning Jordan Binnington figures to start on Friday in Dallas, with Hofer getting Saturday's game against the Kings back home in St. Louis.