NHL Playoffs: Winnipeg Jets Complete Dramatic Comeback To Eliminate The Blues
The Winnipeg Jets completed a late-game comeback for the ages to finish the first round.
For the first time in the series between the St. Louis Blues and the Jets, overtime was required. In fact, these teams needed two overtimes to decide a winner.
Eventually, captain Adam Lowry was the hero for the Jets, scoring his third goal of the series with a deflection from a shot from the point. The Jets won the game and the series 4-3.
This game almost didn't make it to overtime – and that might be an understatement.
The Jets were down 3-1 with two minutes remaining in the third period, but a late goal from Vladislav Namestnikov and a last-moment deflection by Cole Perfetti gave them a chance to win the series and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Both these goals came with Jets' goalie Connor Hellebuyck pulled. Namestnikov's goal came from a shot from the right side of the ice, and it deflected off a Blues defenseman before jumping past St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington. With that goal, the Whiteout in Canada Life Centre was brought back to life.
Winnipeg continued to apply offensive pressure on St. Louis' defense and goaltender. Eventually, all their chances and offensive-zone time paid off in the dying seconds of the frame.
Perfetti, who already had a power-play goal earlier in the game, saved the Jets from elimination. The 23-year-old was in the right place at the right time, deflecting home a shot from left winger Kyle Connor. The goal with 1.6 seconds left was the latest equalizer in NHL playoff history. Perfetti has three goals and five points in this series.
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In addition to playing over four-and-a-half periods of hockey, the Jets were undermanned for most of the game because D-man Josh Morrissey left early in the first period with an undisclosed injury. They already didn't have Mark Scheifele available to play this game.
Defenseman Neal Pionk played a game-high 46:15 of ice time as a result and finished the game with the game-winning assist on the Lowry goal.
This victory for Winnipeg comes one day after another Western Conference series had a dramatic ending.
The Dallas Stars defeated the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 on Saturday, with former Avalanche right winger Mikko Rantanen scoring a third-period hat trick to help the Stars advance.
Now, the Jets and the Stars will meet in the second round. They play Game 1 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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