Jets’ series win is 1st for team
Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal got right to the point.
“It couldn’t have gone any worse at the start for us, and it couldn’t have gone any better for them,” Staal said. “They got the momentum and ran with it, especially early.”
Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba, Bryan Little, Brandon Tanev and Joel Armia scored in the first 11:59 to chase Minnesota goalie Devan Dubynk and the host Jets beat the Wild 5-0 on Friday night to win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history. Winnipeg, which ousted Minnesota in five games, will face the winner of the Nashville-Colorado series in the Western Conference semifinals.
Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his second shutout of the series, and Mark Scheifele added a goal in the third for the Jets.
“I guess I did my job, right?” Hellebucyk said with a chuckle. “I didn’t let any in . ... I thought the team was great in front of me. The guys’ details are fantastic. Any time you can get that many (goals) in the first period, that kind of sinks the other team, especially deep in a series like this. They definitely got this one early.”
The 30-year-old Little joined the Jets franchise in 2007 when it was based in Atlanta.
“Playing in Atlanta, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to experience playing on a team like this and playing in a city like this, where hockey is loved this much,” said Little, who tipped in a goal. “I just feel lucky to be a part of it.”
The white-clad crowd of 15,321 at Bell MTS Place stood and began cheering and waving white towels with just over two minutes remaining. A similar-size crowd was outside watching on giant screens at a “whiteout” street party.
“It’s a tough building. They’re a dangerous team. They get a quick one, and the building gets into it,” Dubnyk said. “A couple deflections, and you can see that’s how a game can kind of run away from you.”
Winnipeg’s previous postseason appearance was a sweep by Anaheim in 2015. The franchise moved from Atlanta in 2011. The Thrashers started in 1999-2000, with their only playoff series ending in four straight losses to the New York Rangers in 2007. Avalanche 2, Predators 1: Sven Andrighetto scored with 1:28 left to lift Colorado past host Nashville, sending the first-round series back to Denver for Game 6.
This is the third time the Avalanche had trailed 3-1 in a series since the franchise relocated to Colorado. The Avalanche lost the first two, but will have a chance Sunday to push this series to a seventh game after rallying with two goals in the final 4:11. Flyers 4, Penguins 2: Sean Couturier’s long shot from the point got past Matt Murray with 1:17 left and visiting Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh to force sixth game in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Flyers cut the Penguins’ series lead to 3-2 going into Game 6 on Sunday in Philadelphia.
After missing Game 4 with a lower-body injury, Couturier extended his team’s season at least two more days by picking up his second goal of the series. Briefly: Washington wing Andre Burakovsky will have minor surgery to repair an upper-body injury and miss the rest of the first-round series against Columbus . ... Bill Peters has resigned as Carolina’s coach after four seasons and no playoff berths. Peters went 137-138-53 in his first NHL head-coach job . ... Aleksander Barkov of Florida, William Karlsson of Vegas and Ryan O'Reilly of Buffalo were named finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy. The award, given to the player who best combines sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability, will be presented June 20.