It’s been a while coming but the Winnipeg Jets finally won a Stanley Cup Playoff game, the first in franchise history, 3-2 over the Minnesota Wild, on home ice.
Joe Morrow struck for the game-winner at 12:47 of the third.
“That’s the majority of the reason you play hockey as a kid is to come and play in the playoffs, play for the Stanley Cup and getting an opportunity to score a goal like that,” Morrow said. “So, to say it’s a dream come true is a pretty big understatement.”
The usual suspects for the Jets showed up including Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine 
who also scored in the win.
“Nothing changed on the bench. The next guys over the boards had a job to do and then they did it and very quickly we got that game back to tied, which was real important to solidify the idea of something I think you’ve worked hard at all year, of playing the same shift after a goal,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said after the win.
Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves to get the win.
Matt Cullen and Zach Parise scored for the Wild.
“They were aggressive,” Parise said. “They were aggressive all over the ice. I think when we didn’t get it behind them that’s when we let them keep coming back at us. That would be my guess as to what happened because I thought for a little while we had a good stretch of shifts in the [offensive] zone and some chances. We have to remind ourselves to keep getting it below the goal line and make smart plays.”
The Wild had a 2-1 lead before the Jets rallied.
“I think we took a breath,” Cullen said. “I think we thought about defending as opposed to continuing to go at them. And they started coming. Obviously, they’re down a goal in the third period, they’re going to start pushing. That combination never works, and we know that. It just bit us. It’s a missed opportunity.”
[WATCH: All Wild vs. Jets highlights | Complete Jets vs. Wild series coverage]
Devan Dubnyk made 37 saves in a busy loss.
“We have to see that we’re able to win like that, and that’s how we’re going to need to win in this building. When we go home, it’s a different story. We can push the envelope a little bit at home,” Dubnyk said. “We were solid. We weren’t giving them turnovers on the rush and give them stuff to feel good. They’re a deep forward group. They’re going to get their chances. They’re going to get their shots. But that’s how we’re going to need to play in this building, and I thought that we did that for 45 minutes.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.