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The Blues and Jets could have the longest series of the first round, and that could be a good thing for Robert Thomas.

If the Blues-Jets series goes the maximum seven games, the matchup will have lasted a league-high 16 days, with three separate two-day gaps sprinkled within the series. For Thomas, who has missed a pair of practices in the past week, the extra rest should be beneficial.

“Yeah, you just take advantage of the time you have,� Thomas said.

Thomas is the Blues’ engine on the top line, a No. 1 center who has produced like one across the past two seasons. After the 4 Nations Face-Off break, no player had more points than Thomas. In the past two seasons, he ranks 16th among NHL forwards in points per game. But during the series against Winnipeg, Thomas has been dealing with a presumed lower-body injury suffered in the last game of the regular season against Utah.

He was off the ice two straight days last week for maintenance, as coach Jim Montgomery termed it. This week, even after the Blues’ off-day on Tuesday, Thomas did not practice Wednesday. Thomas skated Thursday morning ahead of Game 3.

“You just go out there and give it all you’ve got,� Thomas said. “It’s an exciting time of year. You lay your body on the line. I talked about the physicality earlier. It’s been an exciting series so far. It sure will continue.�

Thomas scored a power-play goal in Game 1 that gave the Blues 1-0 lead but has been on the ice for the past three Winnipeg goals (including a late empty-netter in Game 1 by Adam Lowry). Overall, his minus-4 rating is tied for second-worst in the playoffs around the league.

Thomas has been matched up with Winnipeg top center Mark Scheifele for most of the first two games of the series, playing 19:19 at five on five against Scheifele (compared to 9:49 away from him). During those minutes, the Blues have been outscored 3-0, despite holding advantages in shot attempts, shots on goal and scoring chances. Winnipeg also owns a 4-1 edge in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Scheifele entered Thursday with five points on Winnipeg’s seven goals in the series. Linemate Kyle Connor had the game-winning goal in the third period of each of the first two games.

“Yeah, look, they’re great players,� Thomas said. “They’ve made some big plays and won them some games. It’s frustrating. We’ve got to be a lot better on them and take away their time and space, control the puck more. Really limit their scoring chances because they’re making the most of the ones they’re getting.�

As the series shifts to St. Louis, the Blues will receive the benefit of last change at Enterprise Center, potentially allowing Montgomery to put Thomas in favorable matchups. If the Blues stick with an 11-forward formation, Montgomery could be in a position to feed Thomas more than the 23:13 of ice time he received in Game 2.

“Just based on the results they’ve had, that part of it’s been frustrating,� Thomas said. “Within the game, there’s lots of things going on. They got a couple really high-end players, they move the puck well, they’ve played together for a while and have great chemistry. We’ve got to be really sharp against them, limit their time and space. Try and get them to play defense.�

Thomas is one of nine Blues remaining on the roster who played in the franchise’s last playoff home game in 2022, and he’s one of five Blues who won the Cup in 2019. But this series is different for him. He’s not a teenage winger like he was in 2019, or a supporting center like he was in following postseasons in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Thomas had 30 shifts in Game 2, and the only other postseason game with more was the double-overtime win vs. Dallas in Game 7 in 2019.

“Lots of things to improve on,� Thomas said. “Both games, we’re right in it. They score late to take the lead. They’re close games. It’s a matter of just little mistakes. They’ve gotten a couple of good bounces as well. We’re excited to get back home in front of our fans and come out strong tonight and try and make it a 2-1 series. Then it’s anyone’s game.�

Springfield wins

Blues AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) beat Providence 2-1 in Game 1 of the team’s best-of-three first-round series, led by Colten Ellis’ 39 saves. The Thunderbirds were outshot 40-15 in the game, and Ellis stopped all 18 shots he faced in the third period.

Zach Dean and AHL-contracted forward Matt Luff scored for the Thunderbirds, who can close out the series on Friday night at home. If Springfield advances, it will play Atlantic Division champion Hershey in a best-of-five series.

A potential deciding Game 3 would be Sunday afternoon in Providence.