JNGD.R1G5 Recap: Jets Smoke Wild 5-0; Move On To Round Two!
6 years ago
The Jets only needed one chance to eliminate the Minnesota Wild with an absolute thrashing that was started in the first period by racing out to a 4-0 lead and then coasting to a 5-0 game five win that helps win their first ever playoff series four games to one.
TALKING POINTS
- If there was a hockey dictionary that existed, next to the phrase “Perfect Playoff Start” you would find that first period of tonight’s game and really all they needed was the first couple of goals from Jacob Trouba and Bryan Little. The Wild as a team from their goalie on out looked absolutely lost.
- After the 4-0 first period, the Jets did let up a little bit – call it score effects, human nature, the Wild showing a little bit of self pride… But Connor Hellebuyck was rock steady as always and actually had to make a handful of really good saves. Would the Wild have come back if they scored to break up the four goal run in the first period, or if they got a goal or two in the second? We’ll never know… (Probably not)
- Kyle will have more on this game tomorrow. For tonight, try not to think too hard about it. Enjoy the hell out of it and appreciate just how good this Jets team is.
What more can be said about tonight? Some fans waited for this moment for 31 years. Other fans waited for this moment for 18 years. No matter how long you as a Jets fan – be it from the 1.0 days or since the start of 2.0 or even as an Atlanta Thrasher faithful – waited for this moment, just savor this for a moment before we get to the madness of the second round.
15,000 inside the arena. 15,000 outside of it. Tonight was a celebration of hockey and pent up outpouring of emotion. It was absolutely beautiful and a no matter how these playoffs end, it will be a night long remembered not just by Jets fans, but in all of hockey.
SCORING SUMMARY
HIGHLIGHTS
I BROUGHT CHARTS
Matchups are limited to 5-on-5 situations. Tile size is scaled by Time On Ice and colour is scaled by adjusted Expected Goals differential. Blue represents a home team advantage and red represents a road team advantage.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
For Winnipeg: Connor Hellebuyck – Second straight shutout. But really there were a lot of great performances. Byfuglien and Stastny had a couple of assists each. Scheifele had a goal and assist. Trouba led off scoring and played some fantastic defense.
For Minnesota: You’re kidding right?
NEXT FLIGHT
On to the next round!!!
As of right this moment of press time, the Jets will either play the Nashville Predators (likely) or the Colorado Avalanche (eh, crazier things have happened..) in round two which if one had to guess will start middle of next week sometime.
Recent articles from Art Middleton
