The visiting Winnipeg Jets struck first of their first-round NHL playoff collection with top-seeded Vegas on Tuesday evening, topping the Golden Knights 5-1 at T-Mobile Arena.
Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored simply over a minute aside for the Jets within the second interval and Blake Wheeler added a aim early within the third.
Adam Lowry iced the win with an empty-netter and added one other aim with 18.3 seconds left.
William Karlsson tallied for the Golden Knights.
Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves for Winnipeg. His former understudy with the Jets, Laurent Brossoit, had 26 stops for the Golden Knights.
Game 2 within the best-of-seven collection is scheduled for Thursday evening in Las Vegas.
WATCH l Jets take down Western Conference champion Golden Knights 5-1:
Jets defeat Golden Knights in Game 1 with winner from Dubois
Winnipeg beats Western Conference champion Vegas 5-1 in Game 1 of their first-round NHL playoff collection. Pierre-Luc Dubois scores the game-winning aim within the first interval and finishes with 2 factors.
Forward Mark Stone returned to the Golden Knights lineup after lacking 4 months as he recovered from again surgical procedure.
Kevin Stenlund suited up for Winnipeg after struggling a lower-body harm final week. Fellow ahead Nikolaj Ehlers, a game-time choice with an upper-body harm, sat out.
The Golden Knights earned the Pacific Division title and No. 1 seed within the Western Conference with a 111-point common season, nevertheless it was the eighth-seeded Jets who got here out gunning within the opening interval.
Winnipeg had the higher probabilities within the early going however could not fairly remedy Brossoit.
The Jets almost scored halfway via the primary interval after a wild scrum in entrance of the Vegas web. As many as eight gamers have been down within the crease space however the puck did not cross the road.
Barron has scary second
Morgan Barron was reduce close to the eyebrow by a skate blade through the scramble and left the ice for repairs.
He later returned with a full cage hooked up to his helmet after receiving 75-plus stitches.
WATCH l Barron takes skate to face, will get 75-plus stitches, comes again:
Jets’ Barron requires 75-plus stitches after taking skate to face
Winnipeg ahead Morgan Barron leaves the sport after being reduce above his eye by the skate of Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit. Barron would obtain greater than 75 stitches however would return to the sport.
A free-flowing first interval did not see a penalty till Shea Theodore was known as for hooking at 13:27. Winnipeg had a short two-man benefit when Dylan DeMelo was despatched off for slashing however the Jets could not convert.
Considered one of many loudest rinks within the NHL, Vegas followers have been in full voice. The Jets managed to hush the sellout crowd of 18,006 with targets 62 seconds aside early within the second interval.
Connor scored on a one-timer from the excessive slot at 1:24 and Dubois made it 2-0 when his wrist shot beat Brossoit on the blocker facet at 2:26.
The first Vegas power-play got here moments later when Saku Maenalanen was known as for slashing. Hellebuyck went post-to-post to disclaim Reilly Smith on the Golden Knights’ finest alternative.
Vegas acquired on the board at 15:49. Ivan Barbashev feathered a go to a reducing Karlsson, who snapped a shot within the prime nook.
Wheeler restored Winnipeg’s two-goal lead at 3:53 of the third interval when he flipped a backhand previous a screened Brossoit.
The Jets took a bench minor for too many males on the ice with 5:15 left in regulation however Vegas by no means threatened. Lowry’s empty-net aim was scored with 81 seconds remaining.
Jets carry on rising
Winnipeg was one of many prime golf equipment within the convention over the primary few months of the season, endured a midseason valley and closed the marketing campaign on a 7-4-0 run to take the second wild-card berth.
The Jets used a wise, regular method for his or her opening street recreation. Winnipeg made few errors and saved the Golden Knights primarily confined to the wings.
Vegas and Winnipeg beforehand met within the 2018 convention ultimate. The Golden Knights superior and went on to drop the Stanley Cup ultimate to the Washington Capitals.
Winnipeg misplaced all three video games to Vegas within the common season. The Jets have been 20-20-1 on the street whereas the Golden Knights have been 25-15-1 at residence.
Winnipeg will host Game 3 on Saturday afternoon and Game 4 on Monday evening at Canada Life Centre. If obligatory, the collection would return to Nevada for Game 5 on April 27.
