Entering the first-round series between Winnipeg and St. Louis, the advantage appeared clear on paper.

The Jets had the top power play in the league. The Blues penalty kill was 28th. The Jets were second in the NHL with a plus-22 special teams goal margin. The Blues were one of just three teams to make the playoffs with a negative special teams goal margin (minus-7).

Well, you know how reliable paper is in the playoffs.

Through the first three games of the series, which Winnipeg leads 2-1, the Blues have been the dominant team on special teams. They have scored six power-play goals and allowed two on Winnipeg power plays, a plus-4 goal margin that is second in the playoffs behind Los Angeles’ plus-5 mark.

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, left, and Pavel Buchnevich celebrate Parayko’s third-period goal against the Jets in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

The Blues power play has scored in every game this series, and has accounted for six of the team’s 11 total goals. Jordan Kyrou (twice), Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud, Pavel Buchnevich and Colton Parayko have scored power-play goals for St. Louis this series.

People are also reading…

“I think we’ve been very direct,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “I think we’ve attacked the net well and I think (associate coach) Steve Ott has a really good plan. He’s always figuring out new ways to attack from the same kind of look and I think we have really talented players that are playing at a high level on the power play right now.”

During Thursday night’s 7-2 romp in Game 3, the Blues scored three times on the power play.

One was on an extended 5 on 3 advantage from Kyrou. Another was when the game was out of reach, and Parayko bombed away from the left circle. But the Blues unveiled a new wrinkle early on, switching Pavel Buchnevich and Zack Bolduc on the top power play. Buchnevich occupied the bumper, moving Bolduc to the right flank.

The change allowed the Blues to execute a high tip to Buchnevich, fed from Thomas coming down the left flank. It also forced the Jets to think about different passing lanes the Blues might try to navigate. When Bolduc was in the bumper looking for one-time opportunities from Thomas, the passes might come from the hashmarks or below. If the Blues are looking for a tip from Buchnevich, the pass will come from much higher in the zone.

“You’re putting a lot of tape out there of guys in the same position,” Blues defenseman Cam Fowler said. “Teams are able to adjust to that. It’s those in-game adjustments or over the course of the series, you have to show them different looks where they might not have seen it before. It won’t show up on tape. We’re adjusting to what they’re doing as well.”

Buchnevich has a lengthy history at the bumper, and Bolduc played the flank in junior hockey, so both players are familiar with those spots on the ice. Now, it’s about them finding the right pockets.

“If Buchy’s going higher or lower, I’m trying to read off him,” Bolduc said. “He’s doing the same thing to me. We try to talk on the ice when someone is going high or low.”

Asked specifically about the switch of Buchnevich and Bolduc, Montgomery said “maybe it creates a little bit of a hesitancy.”

“Maybe they cover one guy more than the other,” Montgomery said. “And it creates a different opening, especially for who the passers are, which is (Fowler), (Thomas) and (Snuggerud) at the goalline.”

On the other side, the Blues penalty kill has been drastically improved since the 4 Nations break. Before the break, they owned the third-worst PK in the league. But in the 26 games down the stretch, they clocked in at No. 7.

Forward Radek Faksa credited a better neutral-zone forecheck and more consistent penalty-killing pairs for the improvement. For the most part, Thomas is with Buchnevich, Faksa with Alexey Toropchenko, and Oskar Sundqvist with either Mathieu Joseph or Nathan Walker.

In the series, Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele scored in Game 1 on an attempted pass that deflected off Ryan Suter and into he goal. Neal Pionk ripped a one-timer late in Game 3. The Jets could have had another power play goal when Cole Perfetti slapped a feed from Kyle Connor, but Jordan Binnington made a glove save that was upheld following a video review.

“Of course they have the best power play in the league, but we have to just do the little things right like win faceoffs, clear the puck,” Faksa said. “We know who can take the shot, who can make the play. We need to be aware of the players on the ice. Scheifele and Connor, they are probably the most dangerous guys on the PP. You have to be aware of them.”

In the series, the Blues are above league-average in both faceoff percentage while shorthanded (53.3%) and time spent in the defensive zone shorthanded (54.6%, according to NHL Edge). What are the points of emphasis for the Blues?

“Winning faceoffs, clearing pucks 200 feet and trying to have pressure on the entry,” Montgomery said. “Once they get it set up, they’re moving it around, they’re going to get looks, they’re too good of players. We’re trying to control how much in-zone time against us.

St. Louis and Montreal are the only teams that trail their series despite holding an edge in special teams.

Photos: Buchnevich nets hat trick in Blues 7-2 win over Jets in Game 3

Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, center, celebrates his second goal of the game in the first period with teammates Robert Thomas and Cam Fowler against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

An emotional St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich (89) celebrates scoring a hat trick against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn (10) screens a shot by Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (25) against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues fan Logan McCarthney, left, and Anton Krueger celebrate the Blues 7-2 victory against the Winnipeg Jets during Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) stops a shot by Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (55) during the first period action of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich (89) shoves Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti (91) during a melee in the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) stands with the starting lineup for the National Anthem at the start of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues Head Coach Jim Montgomery talks to his time during a time out in the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko scores against Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (4) and St Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist (70) scramble on the ground in front of Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (75) shoves Winnipeg Jets forward Brandon Tanev (73) during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) waits for the start of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Fans get in the action as Blues defenseman Colton Parayko piles on defenseman Cam Fowler after Fowler scored during first-period action against the Jets in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Fans throw their hats on the ice as Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, right, celebrates his hat trick with Robert Thomas against the Jets during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn (10) tries to control the puck with pressure from Winnipeg Jets defensemen Neal Pionk (4) and Dylan Samberg (54) during the first period action of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud (21) looks for a pass with pressure from Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) during the second period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich (89) takes the puck toward the Winnipeg Jets goal during the second period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

An emotional St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich (89) celebrates scoring a hat trick against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) juggles a soccer ball with teammates before the start of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

A St. Louis Blues fan signals no goal as referees review a possible Winnipeg Jets goal during the second period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn (10) is ushered to the penalty box during the third period action of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) warms up before the start of Game 3 Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, left, and Jets forward Mason Appleton mix it up during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stops a shot by Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov in second-period action of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, left, and Pavel Buchnevich celebrate Parayko’s third-period goal against the Jets in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, right, skates to join Oskar Sundqvist and goaltender Jordan Binnington, left, to celebrate the Blues’ 7-2 victory over the Jets in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.

Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter

Sent weekly directly to your inbox!