GOLDEN KNIGHTS PUSH JETS TO BRINK
Expansion team now just one win away from Stanley Cup final, writes Ken Wiebe.
LAS VEGAS The issues have been easy to identify, but implementing the solutions has been much tougher for the Winnipeg Jets.
There have been a few common themes through the first four games in the Western Conference final with the Vegas Golden Knights.
At the very top of the list has been goaltending, as Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury has been outplaying Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck.
Another common theme is that almost every time the Jets make a mistake, the Golden Knights are there to capitalize.
That was never more apparent than in the third period in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
With a third consecutive setback, the Jets trail the series 3-1 and have been pushed to the brink of elimination.
It’s the first time this season the Jets have lost three consecutive games in regulation time, and if they don’t find a way to put a three-game winning streak together, the season will be over and the expansion Golden Knights will advance to the Stanley Cup final.
Game 5 goes Sunday afternoon at Bell MTS Place.
After the Jets tied the game in the third period, Brandon Tanev fed Dustin Byfuglien at the right point for a shot attempt.
But as Byfuglien fanned on the shot, the puck squirted loose, allowing Reilly Smith to skate the length of the ice and beat Hellebuyck with a high shot for what was the game-winning goal at 13:02.
The Jets spent a good chunk of the morning talking about the importance of getting off to a better start.
And while they didn’t give up a goal on the opening shift like they did in Game 3, the Jets did surrender the first score for the third time in as many games.
With Jets defenceman Tyler Myers in the box serving an interference minor, Jonathan Marchessault found William Karlsson for a one-timer.
Vegas is now 9-1 in the playoffs when scoring the first goal.
The Golden Knights’ top line has been downright dominant in this series so far, combining for five goals and 13 points, moving their playoff totals to 16 goals and 47 points.
During the second period, the Jets were able to even the game with a power-play marker of their own. Byfuglien set up Jets winger Patrik Laine for a blistering one-timer. It was the fifth goal of the playoffs for Laine and his first on the road in 16 games.
Jets captain Blake Wheeler chipped in an assist on Laine’s
marker, giving him 18 helpers for the post-season.
But as has been the case so often in this series, the Golden Knights were quick to answer after allowing a goal.
Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant actually put his fourth line on the ice after the Jets goal and they responded by providing the go-ahead marker.
When Hellebuyck couldn’t corral the dump in, Vegas centre Pierre-Edouard Bellemare found Tomas Nosek alone in front for the tap-in.
The goal came 43 seconds after the Jets had tied the score and it was an important one for Nosek, who was in the penalty box when the Jets had evened the score.
The Golden Knights also scored on the ensuing shift in games 2 and 3 after the Jets had scored to tie the contest, and that ability to regroup after a goal is a critical quality at this time of the year.
But the Jets weren’t about to go away.
Much like they did in Game 3, the Jets poured it on in the third period, creating plenty of quality scoring chances, only this time they found a way to tie the game.
Myers beat Fleury through the five-hole at 5:34 of the period.
Jets forward Jack Roslovic, who remained in the lineup even as Nikolaj Ehlers returned after missing Game 3 with an illness, set up Myers for the goal and was buzzing throughout the contest.
As has been the case in three of the four games this series, Fleury was right in the middle of the action, finishing with 36 saves and making plenty of acrobatic stops.
“You can’t let his past saves get in your head,” said Jets centre Bryan Little. “He’s a great goalie, but he lets goals in. Everyone does. He has off nights. Every goalie has an off night. He’s human, but he’s been playing really well in this playoff.”
Fleury’s ability to enjoy the moment when the pressure is high is something that rubs off on his teammates.
“That’s why he plays the way he does,” said Gallant.
“He’s got a lot of experience. He’s loose. Nothing seems to rattle him a whole lot. He works hard and he plays the game for a lotoffun.”
Although the Jets and Golden Knights were meeting for just the seventh time ever, things have started to get a bit more heated on the ice, which is only natural when you consider that a trip to the Stanley Cup final is on the line.
“I think you begin to hate each other more as the series goes on,” said Little. “There is a bit more of that nastiness, and I think that’s good. It’s good to have a hatred for that team.”