Game 7 of Jets vs. Blues brought the chaos Sunday night.
In the final game of the first round of the NHL playoffs, the two squads faced off in Winnipeg with the right to advance to Round 2 on the line. Neither team, however, was quite ready to quit on its season. The game went to double overtime thanks to a miraculous comeback by the Jets, which they eventually completed with a 4-3 victory.
Winnipeg overcame a 3-1 deficit entering the third period, using a miraculous, game-tying shot with just seconds remaining in regulation to force an extra period. After some back-and-forth action over the fourth frame, the result was finally decided in the fifth; the Jets won it on an Adam Lowry shot late in double-overtime, advancing to the second round.
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Here’s a look at the wild ending to Game 7 between the Jets and Blues, including how it stacked up to the longest Game 7s in NHL playoff history.
Longest Game 7s in NHL history
Sunday’s matchup between the Jets and Blues was the third-longest Game 7 ever played in the NHL, taking until the 16-minute mark in double-overtime to conclude.
The only two Game 7 matchups to last longer than the 96 minutes and eight seconds it took in Jets vs. Blues on Sunday were a 1939 matchup between the Rangers and Bruins that lasted 108 minutes and a 1987 game between the Islanders and Capitals that went for 128 minutes and 47 seconds, the longest Game 7 ever.
That 1987 Islanders vs. Capitals game is known as the “Easter Epic,” where New York pulled out a 3-2 victory in the fourth overtime period. The contest started on a Saturday evening, then was given its nickname because it ended in the early hours of Easter Sunday in 1987.
When removing the Game 7 criteria, none of those three games quite stack up to the overall longest NHL playoff games ever, but Jets vs. Blues was undoubtedly one of the most thrilling series-deciding matchups the league has ever seen.
MORE: Full schedule, bracket for 2025 NHL Playoffs
Cole Perfetti, Vladislav Namestnikov force OT in Jets-Blues
The Jets pulled off some magic to ensure Sunday’s game would be the 50th time in history that an NHL Game 7 reached overtime.
Winnipeg came into the third period of its home Game 7 at a significant disadvantage, needing two goals to tie it and play extra hockey. The team’s comeback push came at the latest possible time.
With under two minutes remaining, Vladislav Namestnikov found the back of the net to make it 3-2. The Jets’ home crowd exploded, not knowing they would get even more hyped-up just minutes later.
NAMESTNIKOV MAKES IT A ONE GOAL GAME! 🚨
•••
(🎥: @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/dx4eUx9lLW— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) May 5, 2025
In the complete chaos of Winnipeg trying to keep its season alive with time ticking away, Cole Perfetti hit a long-range shot with just 1.6 seconds remaining on the clock.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! COLE PERFETTI SENDS US TO OVERTIME!! 😱 #StanleyCup #Game7
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT (TBS) & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/0W6kbwvCx9— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025
It was Perfetti’s second goal of the game, and it forced an overtime period to decide Game 7. Per the NHL, the goal was the latest game-tying score in a Game 7 in league history, surpassing Matt Cooke’s goal with six seconds remaining in the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals.
In the first overtime, the two sides traded plenty of shots, none of which connected. Jordan Binnington made a massive save for St. Louis after Winnipeg got a prime scoring opportunity on a fastbreak; the goaltender made a quick save with his legs, keeping the Blues’ season alive.
JORDAN BINNINGTON pic.twitter.com/8ANEBO6hlR
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 5, 2025
Adam Lowry Game 7 game-winner vs. Blues
After over 36 minutes between overtime and double-overtime without the deciding goal, it was Lowry that rewarded the Winnipeg crowd’s patience, tipping in the game-winner to complete the Jets’ 3-1 comeback.
It was the third-latest Game 7 goal in NHL history, per Sportsnet.
ADAM LOWRY IS YOUR #GAME7 DOUBLE OVERTIME HERO!! 🤯
The @NHLJets have punched their ticket to the Second Round of the #StanleyCup Playoffs thanks to their captain’s @energizer overtime goal!! pic.twitter.com/x7Fxq5nuHn
— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025
“With three and-a-half minutes left, we were dead in the water,” Lowry said postgame. “It’s incredible.”
“I love you” ❤️
What a moment between Adam Lowry and Coach Bowness on the postgame 🥹 pic.twitter.com/qS4hGtY8Na
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 5, 2025
Who will the Jets play next?
After its thrilling Game 7 victory and significant comeback effort, Winnipeg is now set for a second-round matchup against the Stars.
Dallas also went to a Game 7 in the first round, defeating the Avalanche 4-2 on Saturday to advance.
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