NEW YORK – The finale for the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs will take place in the same frenzied atmosphere where it began two weeks ago: amid the Whiteout at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, as the Jets meet the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of their Western Conference First Round series on Sunday (7 p.m., ET, Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS, TBS, MAX, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest).
The winner of Sunday’s showdown, the 200th Game 7 in NHL history, will advance to the Western Conference Second Round and face the winner of tonight’s Game 7 between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. This is the fifth straight year with multiple Game 7s in the opening round, the second longest stretch in Stanley Cup Playoffs history behind a nine-year run from 2008 to 2016. Overall, there has been at least one Game 7 in the first best-of-seven round in 21 of the past 23 postseasons (including 2025).
This will mark the first Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to be played in the city of Winnipeg. The Jets are the only franchise with a perfect record overall in Game 7s, winning their only appearance to date, a 5-1 win at Nashville in the 2018 Second Round. The original Jets franchise played in two Game 7s, both on the road, during their 17 NHL seasons from 1979-80 through 1995-96, dropping decisions at Edmonton in 1990 and at Vancouver in 1992.
The Blues are set to compete in their 19th all-time Game 7 (10-8), the most among all non-Original Six franchises and ahead of the Rangers (18 GP) for sole possession of fifth-most all-time. St. Louis will contest its first Game 7 since the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at Boston, their second winner-take-all victory that year. St. Louis is the last Stanley Cup winner with multiple Game 7 victories (2-0 in 2019).
The Blues have won four consecutive Game 7s and can become the fifth team in NHL history to win at least five straight, following a foursome that all claimed six in a row: Carolina (2006-2022), NY Rangers (2012-2015), Boston (1983-1994) and Detroit (1949-1964).
Both starting goaltenders are perfect in Game 7s and neither has allowed more than one goal against. Jordan Binnington (2-0, 0.82 GAA, .968 SV%) won 4-1 in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final (32 saves at BOS) and 2-1 in double overtime in the 2019 Second Round (29 saves vs. DAL), while Connor Hellebuyck (1-0, 1.00 GAA, .973 SV%) claimed a 5-1 triumph in the 2018 Second Round (36 saves at NSH).
Luke and Brayden Schenn will be the first brothers to oppose each other in a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2003 Stanley Cup Final when Scott Niedermayer helped the Devils defeat younger brother Rob Niedermayer and the Ducks. Overall, this will be the ninth Game 7 with brothers going head-to-head (click here for a full list) – the third involving the Blues and first for the Jets franchise. This will be the second Game 7 involving both Schenn brothers – they were teammates with the Flyers in a 2014 First Round defeat (at NYR).
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko is a perfect 4-0 in Game 7s. He is one of four players who have an active streak of at least four Game 7 wins to begin their career, along with Kings teammates Trevor Lewis (5-0) and Drew Doughty (4-0) as well as Oilers forward Evander Kane (4-0).
Blues head coach Jim Montgomery is headed to a winner-take-all game for the third straight year and fourth time overall. He is 1-2 to date, with his first appearance a loss to the Blues while behind the Stars bench in the 2019 Second Round.
The Jets’ Scott Arniel is making his Game 7 debut as a head coach; he is 3-3 as an assistant/associate coach, including wins with the Rangers (2014 First and Second Round, 2015 Second Round) and losses with the Sabres (2006 Conference Final), Rangers (2015 Conference Final) and Capitals (2019 First Round).
Game 7 Trends (entering DAL-COL Game 7)
* The team that scores first is 150-48 (.758) in the 198 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (3-1 in 2024).
* Home teams own a 116-82 (.586) edge in the 198 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (3-1 in 2024).
* 103 of the 198 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (52.0%) have been decided by a one-goal margin, including all four in 2024.
* 49 Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs have required overtime (24.7%). Home teams have a 26-23 edge in those contests (1-0 in 2024).
