WINNIPEG, May 27, 2026
Opening night at the rink couldn’t have been scripted any better for the Winnipeg Blues. In a high-octane, back-and-forth battle against the cross-town Winnipeg Monarchs, the Blues capped off their home opener in dramatic fashion, capturing a thrilling victory in extra time driven by an unforgettable five-point performance from forward Tristen Bailey.
From the drop of the puck, the energy inside the barn was electric as both squads traded blows in a fast-paced, physical contest. The Blues’ offense found its spark early through the relentless play of Jaxin Karst and Tristen Bailey, who proved to be a lethal combination all evening.
Karst set the arena ablaze with two critical goals, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities in front of the net and driving hard through the traffic to keep the Blues matching the Monarchs goal-for-goal. His physical presence and touch around the crease gave Winnipeg the offensive depth needed to hang tough in a game where momentum swung like a pendulum.
However, the night ultimately belonged to Bailey.
After factoring into nearly every major push for Winnipeg with two premier primary assists, Bailey put the team on his back as time wore down. With the score deadlocked after 60 minutes of breathless regulation hockey, the stage was set for 3-on-3 overtime.
It didn’t take long for the Blues to strike in the extra frame. Off a smooth breakout controlled by Milke, the puck was moved quickly up the ice to Voll, who spotted a trailing Bailey cutting through the high slot. Voll served up a tape-to-tape pass, and Bailey made no mistake—snapping a quick wrister past the Monarchs netminder to complete his hat trick, seal the win, and send the home crowd into a frenzy.
With a final stat line of 3 goals, 2 assists, and the OT winner, Bailey’s 5-point masterclass stands as one of the most dominant individual home-opening performances in recent Blues history.
The Blues’ Stars of the Game
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Tristen Bailey (WPG) – 3 Goals, 2 Assists, GWG
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Jaxin Karst (WPG) – 2 Goals
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Milke & Voll (WPG) – Combined for the game-winning OT setup
Up Next
The Blues won’t have long to celebrate this thrilling victory as they hit the road immediately. Winnipeg travels to Selkirk tomorrow night to square off against the Selkirk Steelers. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM at the Selkirk Recreation Complex, be sure to tune in on FloHockeyTV or make the trip to support the boys as they look to make it two in a row!
Written by: Devin Racicot
