One could have turned off the TV after the first period.
Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel admitted the team “lost the game in the first period.” Commenting to reporters after the crushing 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 3, he noted that the opponent`s two quick goals early in the game (within the first three minutes) put them at a disadvantage and energized the Blues fans. “We had a terrible first period,” Arniel added, concluding that “the game was effectively over in the first period.”
“Terrible” might be an understatement.
Within the first five minutes, St. Louis took a 2-0 lead, while Winnipeg couldn`t even register a single shot on goal. The Blues looked more persistent, won most of the battles, and actively forechecked. The Jets, on the other hand, appeared inert and lifeless.
This was reminiscent of the start of Game 1 in the series, when the Winnipeg players looked scattered and disorganized for the first ten minutes.
Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey noted that the Blues` aggressive style was expected. “They forecheck hard and play an aggressive game,” he said. “So we need to do a better job handling the puck to get past that pressure, which we didn`t handle well in the first period.”