Schenn brothers set to face off in Stanley Cup playoffs

After a combined 29 seasons in the NHL, there isn’t much that brothers Luke and Brayden Schenn haven’t accomplished. But come Game 1 between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues on Saturday night, they’ll be able to scratch one more item off the bucket list: the Saskatoon natives will become the 37th pair of siblings to face off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“I wouldn’t say you even dream of it—playing against your brother in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s not really something that crossed our minds,” said Luke.

In what could only be seen as a stroke of fate, it took a unique series of events to pit the two brothers against each other in this year’s first round.

For the eldest brother, Luke landed in Winnipeg after being dealt by Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Brayden, the captain of the Blues, led a St. Louis team that rode a franchise-record 12-game winning streak to erase what had been a mediocre season.

That success created a good kind of dilemma for their parents, Jeff and Rita.

“My dad always says when we play in the regular season, he just wants us to take it to overtime—and then it’s up to us to figure it out,” said Luke.

“They’re just proud they have two sons in the NHL who get a chance to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’re just looking forward to seeing the smiles on our faces and enjoying the moment,” added Brayden.

Dating back to games of street hockey as kids in Saskatoon, the Schenn brothers have always been close, often speaking every day throughout the season. But that bond will be put on pause—at least for the next two weeks.

“Probably not going to chat much, or at all, once the playoffs start—which is good,” Luke said. “He doesn’t need to know what’s going on with my team, and vice versa. Like I said to Brayden, and we both agree: it’s game on.”