Jets’ hot streak carries over into Game 1
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Captain Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each scored twice to propel the Winnipeg Jets to a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
“He loves these challenges,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said of Lowry. “He’s going up against one of the best players in the world, not necessarily the league, but the world in Nate (Nathan MacKinnon). So, he loves those challenges and he takes his game to another level.”
MacKinnon, who had a goal and one assist, was second in league scoring with 140 points during the regular season.
“That’s our captain, man. He’s a gamer,” Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon said of Lowry. “The physicality, he plays against the top guys every night. Sometimes when it seems like our group doesn’t have it, he’s able to pull us into the fight.”
Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists and Josh Morrissey registered a goal and assist. Vladislav Namestnikov also scored. Brenden Dillon, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter each added a pair of assists and Connor picked up one helper.
There were 100 hits in the game, with the Avalanche having a 54-46 edge.
Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves for the Jets, who are on a nine-game win streak.
Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for Colorado. Artturi Lehkonen notched a goal and one assist. Valeri Nichushkin, Miles Wood and Casey Mittelstadt also scored. Mikko Rantanen chipped in with two helpers.
“Unfortunately, all the mistakes that we made ended up in the back of our net,” Makar said. “That’s just the way she goes sometimes. A couple things to clean up and then turn the page.”
Quick goals push Canucks to win
Pius Suter and Dakota Joshua scored 12 seconds apart in the third period and the Vancouver Canucks stormed back for a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday night at Vancouver.
Joshua had two goals and an assist, Elias Lindholm also scored and Thatcher Demko stopped 20 shots for Vancouver, the Pacific Division champion which hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2015.
“We’ve been talking about being in one-goal games the whole season for these moments, and I love that there was zero panic today, hardly any at all,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said. “We just stayed with it.”
Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly scored for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 17 saves.
The Canucks were trailing 2-1 when Suter tied it 8:59 into the third. Quin Hughes took a pass from Brock Boeser and blasted a shot that deflected off Suter and past Saros from just inside the blue line.
Just 12 seconds later, Lindholm checked Jeremy Lauzon behind the Predators’ net and shook him off the puck. Conor Garland picked it up and flicked it to Joshua, who sent it in from the top of the crease to put Vancouver up 3-2.
“I’ll never forget it,” Joshua said of his goal. “And it makes you want to keep doing it.”
Sabres turn back to Ruff as coach
Lindy Ruff is returning to Buffalo for a second stint as coach of the Sabres.
Ruff coached the Sabres from 1997-2013 and was the last person to guide them to the playoffs in 2011 before they’ embarked on the longest drought in the NHL.
Buffalo fired Don Granato after four seasons.