The Winnipeg Jets rallied on Saturday handy the St. Louis Blues a crushing Recreation 1 loss within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Winnipeg, the Central Division No. 1, overcame a 3-2 third-period deficit to win, 5-3, scoring the go-ahead aim with one minute, 36 seconds remaining.
Jets left wing Kyle Connor scored the aim to interrupt a 3-3 tie, snapping a shot from the left face-off circle previous Blues goalie Jordan Binnington off an help from middle Mark Scheifele.
Middle Alex Iafallo tied the sport when he gathered a unfastened puck close to the Blues’ aim and rapidly fired it previous Binnington 9:18 into the third interval.
Winnipeg added an empty internet aim with 1:53 remaining to ice the Recreation 1 win.
The Jets (56-22-4) are coming off one of the best common season in franchise historical past, which started in 1999-2000 because the Atlanta Thrashers, setting the workforce file for many factors (116).
Winnipeg has eight playoff appearances up to now 11 seasons, together with three consecutive. Whereas regular-season success hasn’t been overseas, postseason success has.
Of their seven earlier playoff appearances, the Jets have 5 first-round (or qualifying spherical in 2020) exits. They reached the Western Convention Closing in 2018 and the second spherical in 2021.
This season, the Jets ranked third in targets scored (275) and first in targets allowed (190). Per DraftKings, they’re tied with the Panthers (47-31-4) for the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup (+800), trailing the Avalanche (49-29-4).
The Blues had been amongst hockey’s hottest groups getting into the playoffs. Over their remaining 25 regular-season video games, they went 19-4-2, together with successful 12 in a row from March 15 to April 5, to make the postseason because the West’s second wild card, successful a tie-breaker over the Flames on account of a one-game edge in regulation wins.
St. Louis squandered a possibility to spoil Winnipeg’s Stanley Cup playoff residence opener. Whereas it is perhaps shellshocked after its third-period collapse, it may possibly’t reel for lengthy.
The Blues and Jets get a break day earlier than Recreation 2 in Winnipeg on Monday.
