Blues were the hottest team down the stretch. They open the playoffs against the NHL-best Jets [Video]

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — After the St. Louis Blues won for the 19th time in 26 games since mid-February to make the playoffs, captain Brayden Schenn took it in and was eager to move on.

“We’ve been on a good run here,” Schenn said. “At the same time, just can’t be happy that we’re in.”

Happy not to be on the outside looking in like they were two months ago, but the Blues’ reward for reaching the postseason as the second wild card in the West is a first-round matchup against the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets, who have been atop the conference for some time. Playing meaningful hockey down the stretch could benefit St. Louis, but none of that means anything in a best-of-seven series starting Saturday at Winnipeg.

“Whatever we’ve done in the last two months to get ourselves ready for this, it helps — just like the outstanding season that they’ve had for 82 …