Jets score early, often to beat Golden Knights

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Jets were in rhythm and the Golden Knights looked rusty.

Or, maybe the just that good.

Dustin Byfuglien scored about a minute after the puck dropped as the Jets built a three-goal lead early in the first period and went on to defeat the Golden Knights 4-2 on Saturday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

While the Jets played at home less than 48 hours after advancing past the top-seeded Predators on the road, the Golden Knights were off for nearly a week after eliminating the Sharks in the second round.

“We didn’t have much of a rest,” Byfuglien said. “We’re still in game mode.”

Patrik Laine and Joel Armia had goals 46 seconds apart to put the Jets up 3-0. Mark Scheifele gave the Jets a 4-1 lead on a power play midway through the second period with his 12th goal this postseason.

Brayden McNabb scored midway through the first and William Karlsson had a power-play goal late in the second period to pull the Golden Knights within two, but the expansion team couldn’t get closer.

“We were chasing the game all night,” Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said.

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves for the Jets.

Marc-Andre stopped 22 shots Jets are Fleury for the Golden Knights, whose Stanley Cup-winning goalie has given up at least three goals for the fifth time in six games.

“He’s the best goalie in the playoffs as far as I’m concerned,” Gallant said.

Fleury and the Golden Knights will have to be at, or near, their best when the Jets host Game 2 on Monday night before the series shifts to Las Vegas.

“Next game, no excuses,” Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault said. “Everybody needs to be ready to play our best game of the playoffs. We’re going to show what kind of team we are.”

The Jets, making their deepest playoff run in franchise history, started strong and fast.

The Golden Knights, meanwhile, didn’t appear anything like the team that took the league by storm in its record-breaking inaugural season.

The Jets’ fast, deep and talented team had 114 points this season and trailed only the Predators’ league-high total by three points.

The Jets’ success has carried over into the postseason, winning all three Game 1s and avoiding trailing a series.

The hard-charging, smooth-passing Jets put the Pacific Division champions on their heels right from the start and didn’t relent.

“We did take advantage of being game ready,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said.