In Winnipeg, Jake Evans’ empty net goal with under 80 seconds left in the game gave the Montreal Canadiens a 5-3 lead and win on Wednesday night, in Game 1 of the 
North division final.
“We were solid on both sides of the puck,” Montreal head coach Dominique Ducharme said. “We made good decisions with the puck and had support and created offense. Without the puck, we defended well and we were on them all night. We had numbers on them defensively and didn’t give them much. It was a pretty complete game.”
The goal also resulted in a flagrant charging major and game misconduct against the Jets’ Mark Scheifele against Evans (see video below).
“You never want to see that, a player down on the ice like that.” Ducharme said. “We went through that in Toronto with [John] Tavares (injury in Game 1). He’s not a player in our uniform, but it’s an accident and both sides want him to feel better. I didn’t feel that from the other side when it happened.”
Evans was stretchered off the ice.
“Hopefully the young man is going to be all right,” Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice said. “It’s such a highly unusual play because you’re backchecking back to kill an empty-net play, you’re coming full speed. When Mark stopped skating, he kept his arms in. It’s a heavy, heavy hit. There’s no doubt about that. I’m sure the League will have its opinion.”
Carey Price made 27 saves to earn the win and series lead for the Canadiens.
Adam Lowry had a shorthanded goal for the Jets.
“I think we knew they were going to come out, they were going to have their legs right away [with] them coming off that emotional game in Toronto and, you know, being sharp,” Lowry said. “I think we just lacked a little sharpness early. A couple of mental mistakes. Dug ourselves a hole but, you know, [we] didn’t quit.”
Game 2 is in Winnipeg set for Friday.
Derek Forbort and Kyle Connor scored for the Jets in the third period.
“I thought [the Canadiens] were real good. They looked like they were right in their rhythm. We weren’t as good as we have been,” Maurice said. “We didn’t come to the rink to play regular-season hockey. We understand. We’re excited about the challenge we have here. We can get better, we know that. They played a [heck] of a game.”
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Eric Staal scored in the opening frame to give the Habs a 2-0 lead.
“I thought the way we came out in that first 10, 15 minutes and the way we battled, the way we played, a couple early goals, and it kind of set the tone for us,” the Canadiens’ Corey Perry said. “It’s not easy coming off a Game 7 (a 3-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday), the high and getting ready for Game 1 of a new series and new opponent, and only two days later.”
Nick Suzuki also scored in the first period after Lowry had made the score, 2-1 for the Canadiens.
“I just like the big games,” Kotkaniemi said. “Every game matters, so trying to do your best and you’re trying hard enough, every once in a while you get the puck in the net.”
Montreal was 1-for-4 on the power play, Winnipeg was scoreless in three chances.
“Playoffs are about adapting and getting to know your opponent and being ready for your opponent and knowing who is on the ice,” Perry said. “They have guys over there that can break a game open with speed and skill and guys that can score. We know who’s on the ice, we just have to be aware of that. We just have to take care of ourselves and we’re going to be OK.”
After the Jets cut the Montreal lead to 3-2, Brendan Gallagher scored off the power play in the third period to give the Habs a 4-2 lead.
Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves in the loss
“They came out with a lot of energy while we were just trying to establish our game,” Hellebuyck said. “I think moving forward here, we are going to keep fine-tuning our game more and more. We’re going to continue to get better.”.
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