Blues comeback to lead stunning victory against Jets

Tyler Bozak scored the game-winner with overtime looming as the visiting St. Louis Blues rode a third-period comeback to a stunning 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets in the opener of their Stanley Cup playoff first-round series Wednesday. With his team controlling play for much of the third period, St. Louis' Patrick Maroon created a turnover with his effective forecheck and sent the puck to the slot for Bozak. Bozak snapped a quick shot that found the mark for the game-winner with 2:05 remaining in regulation.

The Jets pushed in the final two minutes for the equalizer, but couldn't solve St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington, who made 24 saves. Probably his biggest came with 12.4 seconds remaining -- getting across his net in time to deny Mark Scheifele's one-timer. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be Friday in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg's Patrik Laine gave the home faithful a reason to erupt when he opened the scoring at 13:28 of the first with a rocket of a shot. Bryan Little stole the puck and sent a saucer a pass to the high slot for a wide-open Laine, who immediately ripped a top-corner offering. David Perron finally pulled the Blues even four minutes into the third period. St. Louis won a faceoff in the offensive zone and worked the puck to Perron at the point, from where his long wrist shot made it through a screen and Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

There weren't many goals but that doesn't mean there weren't close calls at both ends. Late in the first period, Vladimir Tarasenko raced past the defenders for the breakaway and the puck was nearly in, but Dustin Byfuglien stopped the puck from going over the goal line.

Binnington made a couple of key stops in the middle frame to keep his team down just one goal, including one on Par Lindholm on a short-handed breakaway in the early going. Blues standout Ryan O'Reilly rang a shot off the post, as did Byfuglien. Laine also struck iron early in the third period when the Jets were still up 1-0. Hellebuyck made 24 saves. 

(With inputs from agencies.)