Jets get over first-round hurdle, save Connor Hellebuyck from rough series 

The Game 7 win got a couple monkeys off the back of the Jets, too. First, Winnipeg won a postseason series for the first time since 2021. The Jets lost each of the past two years coming off solid regular seasons with 46 and 52 wins, respectively. 

Another early exit, and this time with the President's Trophy in hand, would've been devastating.

But instead of more devastation, the losses and hiccups don't matter now. Now the Jets can open up a new series with a clean slate as they look to get to the Western Conference Final, a place the team has not been since 2018. 

Just as important as vanquishing their first round demons, Winnipeg also managed to get its goalie off the hook as well. This year, Connor Hellebuyck's first-round struggles didn't end up costing his team. 

However, a "here we go again" narrative was surrounding Hellebuyck all series. He was pulled three times and allowed at least five goals on three occasions in the series against the Blues. 

Despite two Vezina Trophies as the NHL's best goaltender and 322 wins, Helleybuyck will be judged by what he does in the postseason. And to this point, it's not been good enough. 

Hellebuyck even coughed up two quick goals again on Sunday night, one 1:10 into the game and another later in the first period. Radek Faksa got St. Louis on the board again with just over 30 seconds left in the second period — that goal made the game 3-1 in St. Louis' favor, a score that would hold until Winnipeg put up a two-minute stretch that will go down in Jets history. 

Winnipeg is now headed to the second round and a matchup with the Dallas Stars, who needed a big comeback in a Game 7 of their own. 

Winning a series is nice and an improvement from recent years, but there's still pressure on Hellebuyck and the Jets to live up to, to give their fans the long playoff run they've been waiting for.