Colorado Avalanche fall to Winnipeg Jets, 7-6 for Game 1 in first round of NHL playoffs

Captain Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor every scored twice to propel the Winnipeg Jets to a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday in Recreation 1 of their first-round playoff sequence.

It was the primary time the 2 groups have met within the NHL playoffs.

A sold-out crowd of 15,225 white-clad followers had a lot to cheer about on the “whiteout” events inside and outdoors Canada Life Centre.

Mark Scheifele had a purpose and two assists and Josh Morrissey registered a purpose and help. Vladislav Namestnikov additionally scored. Brenden Dillon, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter every added a pair of assists and Connor picked up one helper.

Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves for the Jets, who’re on a nine-game win streak.

Cale Makar had a purpose and two assists for Colorado. Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen every notched a purpose and one help. Valeri Nichushkin, Miles Wooden and Casey Mittelstadt additionally scored. Mikko Rantanen chipped in two helpers.

The Avalanche got here into the sequence having misplaced all three regular-season video games in opposition to Winnipeg.

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 16 of the 23 photographs he confronted for Colorado, which is attempting to repeat its 2022 Stanley Cup-championship run. He was backed up by Arvid Holm as a substitute of Justus Annunen, who wasn’t on the morning skate.

The primary interval resulted in a 3-3 tie, together with the groups combining to attain three objectives in 66 seconds.

With an 10-1 lead in photographs on purpose, Nichushkin fired the puck excessive over Hellebuyck’s blocker at 6:10 to present the guests the 1-0 lead.

Morrissey tied it just below two minutes later when his level shot went via visitors previous Georgiev.

The groups then mixed for 4 objectives in just below 4 minutes.

Lowry obtained the one purpose of the second interval.

Lowry’s second purpose of the sport needed to be reviewed because the puck hit one publish, went throughout and hit the opposite publish after which slid alongside the purpose line and hit the publish once more earlier than bouncing out. It counted as crossing the road at 3:31.

Connor and Lehkonen exchanged power-play objectives to make it 6-4 at 6:29, however Connor added his second marker simply over two minutes later. Makar then scored an unassisted purpose on the person benefit for the 7-5 rating at 12:24.

Mittelstadt completed it off with a purpose with 30 seconds remaining.

Mark Scheifele’s first-period purpose was his twentieth profession playoff purpose, scored in his thirty eighth recreation.

Solely three energetic gamers have reached that mark in fewer video games. Alex Ovechkin did it in 26 video games, Jake Guentzel in 32 and Connor McDavid in 36 video games.

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Recreation 2 is Tuesday in Winnipeg.